trefle.io · Taken Mar 3, 2013 by Daniel Barthelemy (cc-by-sa)
Oxalidaceae
Tree-sorrel
Averrhoa bilimbi
Also known as Averrhoa bilimbi f. papuana, Cucumber tree, Averrhoa obtusangula, Averrhoa abtusangulata
Tropical Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Native Plants · Trees & Shrubs · Bilimbi · Tropical Fruit Tree · Sour Fruit · Edible Fruit · Tropical Garden · Oxalidaceae · Cauliflorous · South Asian · Culinary · Exotic
Tree-sorrel is a tropical fruit tree best suited to warm, frost-free climates where it can be grown in a sheltered, partially shaded position with consistently moist, well-draining soil. It produces tart, cucumber-shaped fruits directly on its trunk and branches, making it an unusual and rewarding addition to a tropical garden. Feed with a balanced fertilizer every 6–8 weeks during the growing season to encourage fruiting.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water thoroughly until it drains from the bottom, then allow the top 1-2 inches of soil to dry before watering again · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Temperature
- -20°F to 90°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 5a-10b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 18 in
- Spacing
- 240 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Fruit
- Yes
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Assam, Bangladesh, Brazil Northeast, Cambodia, Caroline Is., Chagos Archipelago, China Southeast, Comoros, El Salvador, Laos, Malaya, Maluku, Marianas, Myanmar, New Guinea, Nicobar Is., Sulawesi, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
- Attracts
- Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Sources: trefle
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