Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Flowering Plants, Herbs
Origin
Mexico, Central America
-
Types
Cuphea hyssopifolia
-
Habitat
Tropical areas
moist forests, Mountains
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
4-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 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
Cushion/Mound-forming
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Pink, Light Pink, Lavender, Violet
Purple, Pink, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Oblong to lance-shaped
Pinnate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Divison, Layering, Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Needs watering once a week, Requires more often in extreme heat
Needs very little water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape
cut main trunk every 5 years, Prune after flowering, Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Compost
Pests and Diseases
-
Nematodes, Red blotch, Trunk Rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
Butterflies
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
Allergy
-
Itchiness, Sore Throat
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Ground Cover
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
-
Anti-ageing, Good Cleanser, Remove blemishes, Removes pimples
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, soil stabilisation
Medicinal Uses
Dysentry, Eye Infection, Indigestion, Organ Stones
Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Flowering Tips, Flowers, Leaves, Shoots, Stem
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Showy Purposes
Added to salads, Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Culinary use
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
CUPHEA hyssopifolia
Averrhoa bilimbi
Common Name
False Heather, Mexican Heather, Hawaiian Heather
Bilimbi, Mimbro
In Hindi
Mexican Heather
Bilimbi
In German
Mexican Heather
bilimbi
In French
Mexicaine Heather
bilimbi
In Spanish
Heather mexicana
bilimbi
In Greek
Μεξικού Heather
bilimbi
In Portuguese
Mexican Heather
bilimbi
In Polish
Mexican Heather
bilimbi
In Latin
Mexicanus Heather
Rondo Beardtongue
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Myrtales
Oxalidales
Family
Lythraceae
Oxalidaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of Mexican Heather and Bilimbi
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Mexican Heather and Bilimbi. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Mexican Heather and Bilimbi as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Mexican Heather is Dysentry, Eye Infection, Indigestion and Organ Stones whereas of Bilimbi is Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity and Tonic. Mexican Heather has beauty benefits as follows: while Bilimbi has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Mexican Heather vs Bilimbi
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Mexican Heather vs Bilimbi and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Mexican Heather are whereas of Bilimbi have Itchiness and Sore Throat respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Mexican Heather has no showy fruits and Bilimbi has no showy fruits. Also Mexican Heather is not flowering and Bilimbi is not flowering . You can compare Mexican Heather and Bilimbi facts and facts of other plants too.