Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Fruit
Origin
North America, South America, Brazil
Southeastern Asia
Types
Peanut cactus
Starfruit
Number of Varieties
1282
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Sandy areas, Semi desert
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-1510-14
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
11-5
Sunset Zone
12, 13, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.20 cm610.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Purple, Orange, Rose
Pink, Rose, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Orange Red
Yellow, Orange, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
-
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Spring
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil
Frost
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Average Water Needs, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Average Water
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, fertilize in summer, Potassium
Fertilize every year
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Scale
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil
Drought
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
-
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Skin cuts
Kidney Stone
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility, Very little waste
Air purification, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Burns, Heals minor burns, Heart problems, High blood pressure, Wounds
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, High blood pressure, Nutrients
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Botanical Name
ECHINOPSIS
AVERRHOA carambola
Common Name
Hedgehog Cactus, Sea urchin cactus
Carambola, Starfruit
In Hindi
हाथी कैक्टस
carambola पेड़
In German
Igel Kaktus
Sternfrucht Baum
In French
hérisson cactus
arbre carambole
In Spanish
cactus de erizo
árbol de carambola
In Greek
κάκτος σκαντζόχοιρος
carambola δέντρο
In Portuguese
hedgehog cactus
árvore de carambola
In Polish
jeż kaktus
karambola drzewo
In Latin
cactus
carambola ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Oxalidales
Family
Cactaceae
Oxalidaceae
Genus
Echinopsis
Averrhoa
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Trichocereeae
-
Subfamily
Cactoideae
-
Number of Species
2000180
1
27800
👆🏻