Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fruit
Grass
Origin
Southeastern Asia
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Types
Starfruit
Sorghastrum nutans
Number of Varieties
23
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
Grassland, low mountains, Semi desert, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-144-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-5
9 - 1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink, Rose, Violet
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Orange, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Blue Green, Burgundy, Copper
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Tan
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Average
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Frost
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs
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
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
Fertilize every year
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Insects
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought and Salt
Flowers
Showy
Showy
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Kidney Stone
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, High blood pressure, Nutrients
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Whole plant
Other Uses
Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Botanical Name
AVERRHOA carambola
SORGHASTRUM nutans
Common Name
Carambola, Starfruit
Indian Grass
In Hindi
carambola पेड़
भारतीय घास
In German
Sternfrucht Baum
Indian Grass
In French
arbre carambole
Herbe indienne
In Spanish
árbol de carambola
Hierba india
In Greek
carambola δέντρο
Ινδικό Grass
In Portuguese
árvore de carambola
grama indianas
In Polish
karambola drzewo
Indyjski Trawa
In Latin
carambola ligno
Indian Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Oxalidales
Poales
Family
Oxalidaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Averrhoa
Sorghastrum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
1809
1
27800
👆🏻