Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Aquatics
Flowering Plants, Herbs
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
moist forests, Mountains
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
4-9
Sunset Zone
21,22
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Habit
Spreading
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Lavender
Purple, Pink, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Reddish Plum
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Long Elliptic
Pinnate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Summer
Tolerances
Wet Site
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
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
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial 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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Compost
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, Damping-off, Root rot
Nematodes, Red blotch, Trunk Rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Birds, Hens
Butterflies, Leaf Hoppers
Allergy
-
Itchiness, Sore Throat
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
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
Anti-ageing Benefits, Antidiabetic, Reduces toothache, Skin Diseases
Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Shoots, Stem
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Used in curries, soups, stews
Added to salads, Can be boiled and seasoned, pickled, Culinary use
Used As Indoor Plant
Sometimes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
IPOMOEA aquatica
Averrhoa bilimbi
Common Name
Swamp Cabbage, Swamp Morning Glory, Water Spinach
Bilimbi, Mimbro
In Hindi
Water Spinach
Bilimbi
In German
Wasser-Spinat
bilimbi
In French
Épinards d'eau
bilimbi
In Spanish
La espinaca de agua
bilimbi
In Greek
Σπανάκι νερό
bilimbi
In Portuguese
Espinafre de água
bilimbi
In Polish
Szpinak wodny
bilimbi
In Latin
Water Spinach
Rondo Beardtongue
Phylum
Spermatophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Solanales
Oxalidales
Family
Convolvulaceae
Oxalidaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of Water Spinach and Bilimbi
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Water Spinach and Bilimbi. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Water Spinach 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 Water Spinach is Anti-ageing Benefits, Antidiabetic, Reduces toothache and Skin Diseases whereas of Bilimbi is Cough, Haemorrhages, Laxative, Obesity and Tonic. Water Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: while Bilimbi has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Water Spinach 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 Water Spinach 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 Water Spinach 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. Water Spinach has no showy fruits and Bilimbi has no showy fruits. Also Water Spinach is not flowering and Bilimbi is not flowering . You can compare Water Spinach and Bilimbi facts and facts of other plants too.