Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Northern Europe, Russia/Siberia
Mexico
Types
Young's weeping birch, Ornäs Birch
Opuntia ficus-indica
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-7
8-12
Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Green
Yellow, Red, Orange
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Black
Reddish Plum
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Yellow, Yellow green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Leaf Shape
Double-toothed, serrated
Globe shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Water more in summer
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
General purpose granulated 30-10-10 fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Anthracnose, Birch Leafminer, Bronze Birch Borer, Slime Flux
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects, Moths
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Inner Bark, Leaves, Sap
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as a thickener in soups, Used as essential oil, used for making charcoal, Used in making tea
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
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
BETULA pendula
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
Common Name
Common Birch, European White Birch, Silver Birch
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
In Hindi
Silver Birch
Opuntia ficus-indica
In German
Weißbirke
Opuntia ficus-indica
In French
Silver Birch
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Spanish
Abedul de plata
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Greek
Silver Birch
Φραγκοσυκιά
In Portuguese
Silver Birch
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Polish
Silver Birch
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Latin
Argentum Birch
Opuntia ficus-indica
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Betulaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Betula
Opuntia Mill
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Subfamily
Betuloideae
Opuntioideae
Importance of Silver Birch and Barbary Fig
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Silver Birch and Barbary Fig. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Silver Birch 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 Silver Birch is anti-inflammatory, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Astringent, Diaphoretic and Diuretic whereas of Barbary Fig is Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea and Hangover. Silver Birch has beauty benefits as follows: while Barbary Fig has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Silver Birch 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 Silver Birch 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 Silver Birch are Pollen whereas of Barbary Fig have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Silver Birch has no showy fruits and Barbary Fig has showy fruits. Also Silver Birch is not flowering and Barbary Fig is not flowering . You can compare Silver Birch and Barbary Fig facts and facts of other plants too.