Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Tree
Origin
Mexico
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Types
Opuntia ficus-indica
-
Habitat
Desert
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-12
4-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Yellow, Red, Orange
Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Reddish Plum
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Leaf Shape
Globe shaped
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Spring
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
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
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
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 in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Foliage Texture
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
-
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Erosion control, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Whole plant
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
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
BETULA nigra
Common Name
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
River Birch
In Hindi
Opuntia ficus-indica
River Birch
In German
Opuntia ficus-indica
Fluss Birch
In French
Opuntia ficus-indica
Birch river
In Spanish
Opuntia ficus-indica
river Birch
In Greek
Φραγκοσυκιά
ποταμός Birch
In Portuguese
Opuntia ficus-indica
river Birch
In Polish
Opuntia ficus-indica
Rzeka Birch
In Latin
Opuntia ficus-indica
Betula
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Fagales
Family
Cactaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Opuntia Mill
Betula
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of Barbary Fig and River Birch
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Barbary Fig and River Birch. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Barbary Fig and River Birch 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 River Birch is . Barbary Fig has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes while River Birch has beauty benefits as follows: Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises and Remove blemishes.
Compare Facts of Barbary Fig vs River Birch
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 River Birch 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 River Birch have Asthma respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Barbary Fig has showy fruits and River Birch has no showy fruits. Also Barbary Fig is not flowering and River Birch is not flowering . You can compare Barbary Fig and River Birch facts and facts of other plants too.