Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico
Mexico
Types
Echinocactus parryi, Echinocactus texensis
Opuntia ficus-indica
Habitat
Desert, Gravels, Sandy areas
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
8-12
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Yellow, Magenta
Yellow, Red, Orange
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Fruit Color
Yellow
Reddish Plum
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Globe shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Tolerances
Drought, Heat Tolerance, Shade areas
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
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
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in summer, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Spider mites
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Shade areas
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Bold
Bold
Attracts
Insects, Mealybugs, Spider Mites
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Very little waste
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
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 Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
ECHINOCACTUS
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
Common Name
Golden barrel cactus, Golden ball
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
In Hindi
echinocactus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In German
echinocactus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In French
echinocactus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Spanish
echinocactus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Greek
Echinocactus
Φραγκοσυκιά
In Portuguese
Echinocactus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Polish
Echinocactus
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Latin
Echinocactus
Opuntia ficus-indica
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Cactaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Echinocactus
Opuntia Mill
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Opuntioideae
Importance of Echinocactus and Barbary Fig
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Echinocactus and Barbary Fig. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Echinocactus and Barbary Fig 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 Echinocactus is whereas of Barbary Fig is Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea and Hangover. Echinocactus has beauty benefits as follows: while Barbary Fig has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Echinocactus vs Barbary Fig
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 Echinocactus vs Barbary Fig 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 Echinocactus are Skin cuts whereas of Barbary Fig have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Echinocactus has no showy fruits and Barbary Fig has showy fruits. Also Echinocactus is not flowering and Barbary Fig is not flowering . You can compare Echinocactus and Barbary Fig facts and facts of other plants too.