Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Herbs, Perennial
Origin
Mexico
South-Eastern Asia
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
-
Habitat
Desert
Semi desert, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
9-11
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
12 - 9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Elliptic
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
Average Water Needs, Needs good drainage
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Cut away fading foliage, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Don't use high pH fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Aphids, Downy mildew, Dry root rot, Rust, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Heat Tolerance, Humidity
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Aphids, Bees, Butterflies, Snails
Allergy
-
Dizziness, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Good Cleanser, Good for the Scalp
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Insect Repellent
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Antipyretic, Bronchitis, Cough, Digestive disorders, Ear infections, Expectorant, Laxative, Migraines, Piles, Rheumatism, Throat infection, Treating fever
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Bark, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
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
Biomass for fuel, Can be made into a herbal tea, Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used as a laxative
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, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
Justicia adhatoda
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Malabar nut, Adulsa, Adhatoda, Vasaka
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
अडुळसा, अडुसा
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Indisches Lungenkraut
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Justicia adhatoda
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Justicia adhatoda
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Justicia adhatoda
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Justicia adhatoda
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Justicia adhatoda
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Justicia adhatoda
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Scrophulariales
Family
Cactaceae
Acanthaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Justicia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Opuntieae
Justicieae
Subfamily
Opuntioideae
Acanthoideae
Importance of Barbary Fig and Malabar nut
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Barbary Fig and Malabar nut. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Barbary Fig and Malabar nut 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 Malabar nut is Antipyretic, Bronchitis, Cough, Digestive disorders, Ear infections, Expectorant, Laxative, Migraines, Piles, Rheumatism, Throat infection and Treating fever. Barbary Fig has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes while Malabar nut has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes.
Compare Facts of Barbary Fig vs Malabar nut
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 Malabar nut 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 Malabar nut have Dizziness, Mouth itching and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Barbary Fig has showy fruits and Malabar nut has no showy fruits. Also Barbary Fig is not flowering and Malabar nut is not flowering . You can compare Barbary Fig and Malabar nut facts and facts of other plants too.