Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Succulent
Fruit
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Starfruit
Number of Varieties
302
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1210-14
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
11-5
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm610.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Pink, Rose, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Yellow, Orange, Light Yellow, Lemon yellow, Yellow green, Gold
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Frost
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Average Water Needs, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
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
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune in winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Fertilize every year
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
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
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Kidney Stone
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Air purification, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, High blood pressure, Nutrients
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
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, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
AVERRHOA carambola
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Carambola, Starfruit
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
carambola पेड़
In German
Elephant Bush
Sternfrucht Baum
In French
Elephant Bush
arbre carambole
In Spanish
elefante Bush
árbol de carambola
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
carambola δέντρο
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
árvore de carambola
In Polish
Elephant Bush
karambola drzewo
In Latin
bush elephant
carambola ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Oxalidales
Family
Portulacaceae
Oxalidaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Averrhoa
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
-
Number of Species
1180
1
27800
👆🏻