Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Cactus
  
Cactus or Succulent
  
Origin
Southern Africa
  
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean
  
Types
Firesticks, Old Man's Beard
  
Astrophytum ornatum, Echinocactus grusonii, Echinocactus grusonii
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Desert, Hilly upland habitat, Semi desert
  
Desert
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-13
  
12-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow
  
Yellow, Red, Orange
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Red, Red orange
  
Lemon yellow
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Yellow green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Light Green, Orange Red
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Tiny
  
Succulent
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Salt
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs good drainage, Water less during winter, Water more in summer
  
Do not water frequently
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
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 branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Not Available
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Not Available, Red blotch
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Not Available
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Eye irritation, Numb Lips
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Mixed Border, Ornamental use, Showy Purposes
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antiasthamatic, anti-cancer, Antitumor, Cough, Ear ache
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Branch, Latex, Root
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Used as firewood, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
  
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
EUPHORBIA tirucalli
  
FEROCACTUS
  
Common Name
aveloz, firestick plants, Indian tree spurge, naked lady, pencil tree, pencil cactus, sticks on fire, milk bush, Euphorbia tirucalli
  
barrel cactus
  
In Hindi
Sher-kandvel
  
barrel cactus
  
In German
Bleistiftstrauch
  
Fass-Kaktus-
  
In French
Aveloz
  
Barrel cactus
  
In Spanish
Pencil Plant
  
biznaga
  
In Greek
Aveloz
  
βαρέλι κάκτος
  
In Portuguese
avelós
  
Barrel cactus
  
In Polish
Aveloz
  
cactus Barrel
  
In Latin
Aveloz
  
cactus
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Euphorbiales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Euphorbiaceae
  
Cactaceae
  
Genus
Euphorbia
  
Ferocactus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Not Available
  
Tribe
Euphorbieae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Euphorbioideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Importance of Pencil Plant and Barrel Cactus
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Pencil Plant and Barrel Cactus. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Pencil Plant and Barrel Cactus 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 Pencil Plant is Antiasthamatic, anti-cancer, Antitumor, Cough and Ear ache whereas of Barrel Cactus is Not Available. Pencil Plant has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Barrel Cactus has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Pencil Plant vs Barrel Cactus
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 Pencil Plant vs Barrel Cactus 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 Pencil Plant are Eye irritation and Numb Lips whereas of Barrel Cactus have Not Available respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Pencil Plant has no showy fruits and Barrel Cactus has showy fruits. Also Pencil Plant is not flowering and Barrel Cactus is not flowering . You can compare Pencil Plant and Barrel Cactus facts and facts of other plants too.