Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Flowering Plants, Herbs
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
-
Mexico
Types
-
Cephalocereus senilis
Number of Varieties
21
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
moist forests, Mountains
Dry areas, Forest margins, gardens, Semi arid regions, Semi desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-911-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-2
12-10
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, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Narrow Upright/Fastigiate
Plant Size
Minimum Height
38.10 cm460.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.40 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple, Pink, Lavender
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Brown
Light Pink
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
White
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
White
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
White
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
White
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Funnel shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs very little water
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Compost
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Red blotch, Trunk Rot
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
-
Allergy
Itchiness, Sore Throat
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes, Removes pimples
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, soil stabilisation
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity, Tonic
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Bulbs, Hair
Other Uses
Added to salads, Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Culinary use
Hair is used in making sweaters, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
Averrhoa bilimbi
CEPHALOCEREUS senilis
Common Name
Bilimbi, Mimbro
Bunny Cactus
White Persian Cat cactus
In Hindi
Bilimbi
ओल्ड मैन कैक्टस
In German
bilimbi
Old Man Cactus
In French
bilimbi
Old Man Cactus
In Spanish
bilimbi
Viejo Cactus
In Greek
bilimbi
Γέρος Cactus
In Portuguese
bilimbi
Old Man Cactus
In Polish
bilimbi
Stary Cactus
In Latin
Rondo Beardtongue
Senem Cactus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Oxalidales
Caryophyllales
Family
Oxalidaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Averrhoa
Cephalocereus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Pachycereeae
Subfamily
-
Cactoideae
Number of Species
12200
1
27800
👆🏻