Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Flowering Plants, Herbs
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Hybrid origin
Mexico
Types
Not Available
Not Available
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
moist forests, Mountains
Dry areas, Forest margins, gardens, Semi arid regions, Semi desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
11-15
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, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Narrow Upright/Fastigiate
Flower Color
Purple, Pink, Lavender
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Not Available
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
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Funnel shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
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
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 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 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
Flower Petal Number
Single
Not Available
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
Not Available
Allergy
Itchiness, Not Available, Sore Throat
Skin irritation
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
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
Not Available
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
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
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
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Oxalidales
Caryophyllales
Family
Oxalidaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Averrhoa
Cephalocereus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Pachycereeae
Subfamily
Not Available
Cactoideae
Number of Species
Not Available
Importance of Bilimbi and Old Man Cactus
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Bilimbi and Old Man Cactus. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Bilimbi and Old Man Cactus 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 Old Man Cactus is Not Available. Bilimbi has beauty benefits as follows: Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes and Removes pimples while Old Man Cactus has beauty benefits as follows: Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes and Removes pimples.
Compare Facts of Bilimbi vs Old Man Cactus
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 Old Man Cactus 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 Old Man Cactus have Skin irritation respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Bilimbi has no showy fruits and Old Man Cactus has no showy fruits. Also Bilimbi is not flowering and Old Man Cactus is not flowering . You can compare Bilimbi and Old Man Cactus facts and facts of other plants too.
