Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Flowering Plants, Herbs
Tree
Origin
Hybrid origin
Hybrid origin, Southeastern Asia
Types
Not Available
Bauhinia. blakeana, Bauhinia variegata Candida.
Habitat
moist forests, Mountains
tropical environments
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
10-15
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
H1, H2, 13, 19, 21, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Purple, Pink, Lavender
Pink, Light Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Lavender, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Not Available
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Orbiculate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Spring, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Summer
Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Grafting, Layering, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Needs very little water
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
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
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Pruning
cut main trunk every 5 years, Prune after flowering, Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune ocassionally, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Compost
Less fertilizing
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Red blotch, Trunk Rot
Bacterial leaf scorch, Borers, Caterpillars, Leaf spot, Mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
Bees, Birds
Allergy
Itchiness, Not Available, Sore Throat
Not Available
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Beautification, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes, Removes pimples
Not Available
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, soil stabilisation
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity, Tonic
No Medicinal Use
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Flowers, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Added to salads, Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Culinary use
Food for insects, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Container, Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
Averrhoa bilimbi
BAUHINIA blakeana
Common Name
Bilimbi, Mimbro
Blake's Butterfly Tree, Chinese Orchid Tree, Hong Kong Orchid Tree
In Hindi
Bilimbi
हांगकांग आर्किड पेड़
In German
bilimbi
Hong Kong Orchidee Baum
In French
bilimbi
Hong Kong arbre d'orchidée
In Spanish
bilimbi
árbol de orquídea Hong Kong
In Greek
bilimbi
δέντρο ορχιδέα Χονγκ Κονγκ
In Portuguese
bilimbi
árvore de orquídea de Hong Kong
In Polish
bilimbi
storczyk drzewo Hong Kong
In Latin
Rondo Beardtongue
Hong Kong Orchid ligno
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Oxalidaceae
Fabaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Not Available
Caesalpinioideae
Importance of Bilimbi and Hong Kong Orchid Tree
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Bilimbi and Hong Kong Orchid Tree. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Bilimbi and Hong Kong Orchid Tree 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 Hong Kong Orchid Tree is No Medicinal Use. Bilimbi has beauty benefits as follows: Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes and Removes pimples while Hong Kong Orchid Tree has beauty benefits as follows: Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes and Removes pimples.
Compare Facts of Bilimbi vs Hong Kong Orchid Tree
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 Hong Kong Orchid Tree 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, Not Available and Sore Throat whereas of Hong Kong Orchid Tree have Not Available respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Bilimbi has no showy fruits and Hong Kong Orchid Tree has no showy fruits. Also Bilimbi is not flowering and Hong Kong Orchid Tree is not flowering . You can compare Bilimbi and Hong Kong Orchid Tree facts and facts of other plants too.