Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Cactus
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, China
Central America, South America, Brazil
Types
Tropical Fruit Tree
cleistocactus strausii, cleistocactus winteri, cleistocactus samaipatanus
Number of Varieties
1015
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Subtropical forests, Tropical Forests
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1512-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 24
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,370.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Ivory
Red, Orange, Salmon
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Yellow green, Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
-
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblong or Lanceolate
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
-
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Spring, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Reduce watering in winter
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
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove dead branches
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Put diluted fertilizers
Fertilize the soil before planting, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Chlorosis, Susceptible to insect pests and moulds
Bacterial Stem Rot, fungus, Mealybugs, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, antimicrobial, Astringent, Expectorant
-
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Whole plant
Other Uses
Jam, Jelly, used in Indian cuisine in curries
Florist trade and landscaping, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
DILLENIA indica
CLEISTOCACTUS
Common Name
Chulta, Elephant Apple
Cleistocactus
In Hindi
Elephant Apple
Cleistocactus
In German
Elefant von Apple
Cleistocactus
In French
Elephant d'Apple
Cleistocactus
In Spanish
El elefante de Apple
Cleistocactus
In Greek
ελέφαντας της Apple
Cleistocactus
In Portuguese
Elefante da Apple
Cleistocactus
In Polish
Słoń Jabłko
Kleistokaktus
In Latin
Elephant Apple
Cleistocactus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Dilleniales
Caryophyllales
Family
Dilleniaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Dillenia
Cleistocactus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Trichocereeae
Subfamily
-
Cactoideae
Number of Species
150
1
27800
👆🏻