Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Fruit
  
Grass
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia
  
Middle Africa
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
  
Floodplains, Forest margins, Tropical regions, waterways, Wet lands, Woodlands
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-14
  
7-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
11-5
  
12 - 1
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
  
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Pink, Rose, Violet
  
Sandy Brown
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Yellow, Orange, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Purple
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Purple
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Purple
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
  
Long Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Very Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Frost
  
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Budding, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Requires watering in the growing season
  
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
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
Fertilize every year
  
Nitrogen, organic fertlizers
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Insects, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Cold climate, Drought, Salt
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Yes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
  
Birds, Flying insects
  
Allergy
Kidney Stone
  
Asthma, breathing problems
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
No Beauty Benefits
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Food for animals, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, High blood pressure, Nutrients
  
Eye Problems, Headache, Skin Disorders, Wounds
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
  
Leaves, Seeds
  
Other Uses
Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Food for animals, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
  
Bedding Plant, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
  
Botanical Name
AVERRHOA carambola
  
PENNISETUM purpureum 'Prince'
  
Common Name
Carambola, Starfruit
  
Elephant Grass
  
In Hindi
carambola पेड़
  
हाथी घास
  
In German
Sternfrucht Baum
  
Elefantengras
  
In French
arbre carambole
  
l'herbe à éléphant
  
In Spanish
árbol de carambola
  
pasto elefante
  
In Greek
carambola δέντρο
  
ελέφαντα χόρτο
  
In Portuguese
árvore de carambola
  
capim-elefante
  
In Polish
karambola drzewo
  
trawa słoniowa
  
In Latin
carambola ligno
  
elephanti herba
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Oxalidales
  
Poales
  
Family
Oxalidaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Averrhoa
  
Pennisetum
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Paniceae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Panicoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available