Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Cactus or Succulent
  
Flowering Plants, Herbs
  
Origin
South America, Brazil
  
Hybrid origin
  
Types
not available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Rocky areas, rocky outcrops, Sandy areas
  
moist forests, Mountains
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
4-9
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
  
9-2
  
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Purple, Pink, Lavender
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Red, Violet
  
Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Not Available
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Not Available
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Succulent
  
Pinnate
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer
  
Late Spring, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings, Vegetative
  
Cuttings, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs less watering
  
Needs very little water
  
In Summer
Regular watering required
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
cut main trunk every 5 years, Prune after flowering, Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No fertilizers needed
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Compost
  
Pests and Diseases
Not Available
  
Nematodes, Red blotch, Trunk Rot
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
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
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Fruit Bats, Moths, pollinators
  
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
  
Allergy
Toxic
  
Itchiness, Not Available, Sore Throat
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Borders, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes, small hedge, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
  
Beautification
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes, Removes pimples
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Food for birds
  
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, soil stabilisation
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity, Tonic
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Whole plant
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used in construction, Used to feed livestock
  
Added to salads, Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Culinary use
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Showy
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Landscape, Rock Garden, Showy Tree, Wall
  
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
CEREUS jamacaru
  
Averrhoa bilimbi
  
Common Name
mandacaru, cardeiro, Night-blooming Cactus, Pleated Cereus
  
Bilimbi, Mimbro
  
In Hindi
mandacaru
  
Bilimbi
  
In German
Cereus jamacaru
  
bilimbi
  
In French
Cereus jamacaru
  
bilimbi
  
In Spanish
Cereus jamacaru
  
bilimbi
  
In Greek
Mandacaru
  
bilimbi
  
In Portuguese
Mandacaru
  
bilimbi
  
In Polish
Mandacaru
  
bilimbi
  
In Latin
Mandacaru
  
Rondo Beardtongue
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Oxalidales
  
Family
Cactaceae
  
Oxalidaceae
  
Genus
Cereus
  
Averrhoa
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Careeae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Cactoideae
  
Not Available