Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fruit
Tree
Origin
Southeastern Asia
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Starfruit
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
25
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-145-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-5
9-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink, Rose, Violet
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Orange, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Frost
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize every year
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Kidney Stone
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, High blood pressure, Nutrients
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
AVERRHOA carambola
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Carambola, Starfruit
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
carambola पेड़
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Sternfrucht Baum
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
arbre carambole
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
árbol de carambola
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
carambola δέντρο
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
árvore de carambola
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
karambola drzewo
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
carambola ligno
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Oxalidales
Cornales
Family
Oxalidaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Averrhoa
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Bombini
Subfamily
-
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
18045
1
27800
👆🏻