Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Tree
Origin
Mexico
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Guaiacum officinale
Habitat
Desert
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
10-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Olive
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Egg-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Consistently
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Biomass for fuel, Employed in herbal medicine, Fine spines and trichomes are used as fiber for weaving, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
Lignum Vitae
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Lignum Vitae
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Palo santo
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
pau-santo
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
lignum Vitae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Sapindales
Family
Cactaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
-
Importance of Barbary Fig and Lignum Vitae
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Barbary Fig and Lignum Vitae. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Barbary Fig and Lignum Vitae as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Barbary Fig is Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea and Hangover whereas of Lignum Vitae is . Barbary Fig has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes while Lignum Vitae has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes.
Compare Facts of Barbary Fig vs Lignum Vitae
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Barbary Fig vs Lignum Vitae and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Barbary Fig are whereas of Lignum Vitae have Skin irritation respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Barbary Fig has showy fruits and Lignum Vitae has showy fruits. Also Barbary Fig is not flowering and Lignum Vitae is not flowering . You can compare Barbary Fig and Lignum Vitae facts and facts of other plants too.