Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Biennials
Type
Flowering Plants, Herbs
Vegetable
Origin
-
India, Philippines, Southeast Asia
Types
-
Lagenaria siceraria
Habitat
moist forests, Mountains
Moist Soils, Tropical Climate
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
5-7
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
Clump-Forming
Vining/Climbing
Flower Color
Purple, Pink, Lavender
Yellow, Orange, Dark Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Yellow, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Palmate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Summer
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Needs very little water
Requires watering in the growing season, water on alternate days
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
cut main trunk every 5 years, Prune after flowering, Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut out old flower stalks, Prune after flowering, Remove branches that rub together, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Compost
High potassium diluted feed of 5-10-5, Nitrogen, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Red blotch, Trunk Rot
Army-worms, Bacteria wilt, Bacterial leaf spot, Blight, Cucumber beetles, Cutworms, Fusarium leaf spot, Leaf rust, Red spider mite, Striped cucumber beetles
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
Bees, Flies, Flying insects
Allergy
Itchiness, Sore Throat
Hypoglycaemic Coma, Irregular Heart Rhythm
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Decorating walls, Ornamental use
Beauty Benefits
Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes, Removes pimples
Anti-ageing, Making cosmetics
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, soil stabilisation
Food for animals, Insect Repellent
Medicinal Uses
Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity, Tonic
Anti-fungal, Blood disorders, Culinary Usage, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal disorders, Laxative, Nutritive, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Fruits
Other Uses
Added to salads, Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Culinary use
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Repellent, Used in making musical instruments
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Vine
Botanical Name
Averrhoa bilimbi
Lagenaria siceraria
Common Name
Bilimbi, Mimbro
calabash, bottle gourd, white-flowered gourd, opo squash
In German
bilimbi
Flaschenkürbis
In French
bilimbi
Lagenaria siceraria
In Spanish
bilimbi
Lagenaria siceraria
In Portuguese
bilimbi
Cabaça
In Polish
bilimbi
Tykwa pospolita
In Latin
Rondo Beardtongue
utrem cucurbita
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Oxalidales
Cucurbitales
Family
Oxalidaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
-
Papilionoideae
Importance of Bilimbi and Bottle Gourd
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Bilimbi and Bottle Gourd. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Bilimbi and Bottle Gourd 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 Bilimbi is Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity and Tonic whereas of Bottle Gourd is Anti-fungal, Blood disorders, Culinary Usage, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal disorders, Laxative, Nutritive and Weight loss. Bilimbi has beauty benefits as follows: Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes and Removes pimples while Bottle Gourd has beauty benefits as follows: Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes and Removes pimples.
Compare Facts of Bilimbi vs Bottle Gourd
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 Bilimbi vs Bottle Gourd 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 Bilimbi are Itchiness and Sore Throat whereas of Bottle Gourd have Hypoglycaemic Coma and Irregular Heart Rhythm respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Bilimbi has no showy fruits and Bottle Gourd has showy fruits. Also Bilimbi is not flowering and Bottle Gourd is not flowering . You can compare Bilimbi and Bottle Gourd facts and facts of other plants too.