Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Mexico
Types
Cherry laurel, California Bay Laurel, Spotted laurel
Not Available
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Tropical regions
Desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-9
8-12
Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 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
Oval or Rounded
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
White, Ivory
Yellow, Red, Orange
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Not Available
Fruit Color
Orange Red
Reddish Plum
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green, Tan, Silver
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Yellow green, Tan
Green
Leaf Shape
Oval
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Tolerances
Wet Site
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Planting
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, occasional watering once established
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune for shortening long shoots, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Beetles, Fusarium wilt, Rust, Scab
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea, wheezing
Not Available
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
Sometimes
Yes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health, treating poison ivy
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Stem
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Florist trade and landscaping, Making Perfumes, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., 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
Feature Plant, Foundation, Shade Trees
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
Laurus nobilis
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
Common Name
Sweetbay
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
In Hindi
Laurus nobilis
Opuntia ficus-indica
In German
Echter Lorbeer
Opuntia ficus-indica
In French
Laurus nobilis
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Spanish
Laurus nobilis
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Greek
Laurus nobilis
Φραγκοσυκιά
In Portuguese
Loureiro
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Polish
Wawrzyn szlachetny
Opuntia ficus-indica
In Latin
Laurus nobilis
Opuntia ficus-indica
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Laurales
Caryophyllales
Family
Magnoliaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Laurus
Opuntia Mill
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
Epidendreae
Opuntieae
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
Opuntioideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Sweetbay and Barbary Fig
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Sweetbay and Barbary Fig. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Sweetbay 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 Sweetbay is Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health and treating poison ivy whereas of Barbary Fig is Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea and Hangover. Sweetbay has beauty benefits as follows: For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner and Making cosmetics while Barbary Fig has beauty benefits as follows: For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner and Making cosmetics.
Compare Facts of Sweetbay 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 Sweetbay 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 Sweetbay are allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea and wheezing whereas of Barbary Fig have Not Available respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Sweetbay has no showy fruits and Barbary Fig has showy fruits. Also Sweetbay is not flowering and Barbary Fig is not flowering . You can compare Sweetbay and Barbary Fig facts and facts of other plants too.