Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Tree
Origin
Mexico
Southwestern United States
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
Prosopis chilensis, Prosopis juliflora
Habitat
Desert
Desert, Dry areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
6-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Compound
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Spring
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Grafting, 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
Keep ground moist
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Ample Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Prune in early spring, Remove all watersprouts, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Use nitrogen rich soil
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Armored scales, Candidula scale, Flatheaded borers, Mealybugs, Mesquite girdler, Mesquite scale, Oldman longhorn, Roundheaded borers, Stem gall rust
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Bold
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Birds
Allergy
-
Asthma, Rhinitis
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Improve hair condition
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Conjuctivitis, Emetic, Eye Problems, Headache, Laxative, Pain in gums, Stomach aliments, Sunburn
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Inner Bark, Leaves, 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 as a dye, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties, Wood is used for making 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
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
PROSOPIS glandulosa
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
Mesquite
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
उत्तर पश्चिमी अमरीका का एक फलीदार पेड
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Mesquite
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Mesquite
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
mezquite
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
Είδος μιμόζας
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
Mesquite
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Mesquite
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Mesquite
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Fabales
Family
Cactaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Prosopis
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of Barbary Fig and Mesquite Tree
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Barbary Fig and Mesquite Tree. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Barbary Fig and Mesquite Tree 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 Mesquite Tree is Conjuctivitis, Emetic, Eye Problems, Headache, Laxative, Pain in gums, Stomach aliments and Sunburn. Barbary Fig has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes while Mesquite Tree has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes.
Compare Facts of Barbary Fig vs Mesquite Tree
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 Mesquite Tree 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 Mesquite Tree have Asthma and Rhinitis respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Barbary Fig has showy fruits and Mesquite Tree has showy fruits. Also Barbary Fig is not flowering and Mesquite Tree is not flowering . You can compare Barbary Fig and Mesquite Tree facts and facts of other plants too.