Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Flowering Plants, Herbs
Tender Perennial
Origin
-
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Types
-
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
Habitat
moist forests, Mountains
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
-9999
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
-
Flower Color
Purple, Pink, Lavender
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
-
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Linear
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
-
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
-
Soil Drainage
Well drained
-
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Summer
-
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Needs very little water
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
-
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
-
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
-
Pruning
cut main trunk every 5 years, Prune after flowering, Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Compost
Does not require fertilizer once established
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Red blotch, Trunk Rot
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Variety of soil types
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Attracts
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
Allergy
Itchiness, Sore Throat
-
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes, Removes pimples
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, soil stabilisation
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity, Tonic
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
-
Other Uses
Added to salads, Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Culinary use
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
-
Botanical Name
Averrhoa bilimbi
CRYPTANTHUS
Common Name
Bilimbi, Mimbro
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
In Hindi
Bilimbi
Earth Star
In German
bilimbi
Erdstern
In French
bilimbi
Terre étoile
In Spanish
bilimbi
estrella de la tierra
In Greek
bilimbi
γη αστεριών
In Portuguese
bilimbi
Estrela da terra
In Polish
bilimbi
Gwiazda ziemi
In Latin
Rondo Beardtongue
terra, stella
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Oxalidales
Bromeliales
Family
Oxalidaceae
Bromeliaceae
Genus
Averrhoa
Cryptanthus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Subfamily
-
Bromelioideae
Importance of Bilimbi and Earth Star
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Bilimbi and Earth Star. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Bilimbi and Earth Star 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 Earth Star is . Bilimbi has beauty benefits as follows: Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes and Removes pimples while Earth Star has beauty benefits as follows: Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes and Removes pimples.
Compare Facts of Bilimbi vs Earth Star
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 Earth Star 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 Earth Star have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Bilimbi has no showy fruits and Earth Star has no showy fruits. Also Bilimbi is not flowering and Earth Star is not flowering . You can compare Bilimbi and Earth Star facts and facts of other plants too.