Bilimbi Tree | Tangy Tropical Cucumber-Fruit Plant

Bilimbi

5 Gallon

$199.00

Bilimbi

Averrhoa bilimbi

Intensely Sour Culinary Fruit • Natural Souring Agent for Cooking • Striking Ornamental Tree

$199.00

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Bay Area–Based Nursery

We specialize in plants grown and delivered in their original pots and soil.
Because of their size and weight, our plants are not suitable for long-distance shipping and are delivered locally to ensure health and quality.

While delivery is limited to our local service area, we’re happy to support garden design and plant selection remotely.

For local plant professionals, we’re always glad to connect and explore ways to support your customers.

The Bilimbi is the fascinating, intensely sour cousin of the star fruit, valued entirely for its culinary and medicinal uses rather than fresh eating. This striking tree produces clusters of small, green, cucumber-like fruits directly on its trunk and branches. The juicy, crisp flesh is mouth-puckeringly sour, packed with oxalic acid. A staple in Southeast Asian and Latin American kitchens, it is an indispensable natural souring agent for curries, chutneys, pickles, and refreshing beverages, much like a tart, green tamarind or lemon.

Grown exclusively as a souring agent in cooking and for processing; not for fresh eating.
Produces prolific clusters of small, green, cylindrical fruits along the trunk and branches (cauliflory).
Flesh is extremely sour, crisp, and juicy with a high oxalic acid content.
The tree is highly ornamental with a beautiful form and attractive foliage.
Very sensitive to cold and requires a consistently warm, tropical climate.
Often used as a rootstock for grafting sweeter star fruit (carambola) varieties.

Flavor Profile:

Flavor: Extremely sour and acidic, similar to a very tart green apple or sorrel.
Texture: Crisp and juicy when fresh, becoming soft when cooked.
Primary Uses: A traditional souring agent for soups (like Sinigang), curries, chutneys, pickles, and preserves. The juice is used to make a refreshing, vitamin C-rich drink when heavily sweetened.

Knowing how we measure the size?

When browsing our plants, you may notice size terms such as Gallon, Multi, or Stand. These describe how a plant is grown, containerized, or structured at the time of sale — not just its height. Understanding these terms will help you choose the right plant for your space and expectations.

🌱 Gallon Size (Container Size)

Gallon refers to the size of the nursery container the plant is currently growing in (e.g. 1 Gallon, 5 Gallon, 15 Gallon).

A larger gallon size generally means:
- A more established root system
- A sturdier plant
- Faster visual impact after planting
Example:
- 5 Gallon: Ideal for residential gardens, easy to handle, good balance of value and maturity
- 15 Gallon: More mature, provides quicker results in the landscape

Note: Gallon size does not guarantee a specific height, as growth varies by species.

🌳 Multi (Multi-Trunk / Multi-Branch Form)

Multi indicates the plant has multiple trunks or main stems growing from the base.

Commonly used for:
- Ornamental trees
- Feature plants
- Japanese maples, olives, crepe myrtles, etc.
Why choose Multi:
- Fuller, more sculptural appearance
- Strong visual presence even at younger ages
- Popular for design-focused landscapes

🌲 Stand (Single-Trunk / Standard Form)

Stand (short for Standard) refers to a single, dominant trunk with a raised or naturally formed canopy.

Commonly used for:
- Shade trees
- Street trees
- Orchard and structural plantings
Why choose Stand:
- Clean, classic tree form
- Easier clearance for walkways and lawns
- Preferred for long-term structure and uniformity

🌿 Choosing the Right Size

If you want instant impact → larger Gallon, Multi form
If you want long-term structure → Stand form
If you want flexibility and value → mid-size Gallon containers

If you’re unsure which size or form fits your project, our team is happy to help you select the best option based on your space, timeline, and design goals.

Features:Foliage: Compound leaves are clustered at the branch tips, each composed of 10-20 pairs of small, opposite leaflets.Flowers: Small, fragrant flowers ranging in color from purple to yellowish-green. They are borne in large, showy clusters (panicles) directly on the trunk and thicker branches, a phenomenon known as cauliflory.Fruit: The fruit is oblong with a distinctive, bluntly angled shape, resembling a small cucumber. It has a glossy, thin, tender, light green skin. The interior flesh is green, jelly-like, very juicy, and extremely acidic with a crisp texture, containing small, smooth, flat, disc-shaped seeds.Habit: A small, attractive, evergreen tree with a short trunk that quickly divides into a few upright branches, forming a rounded canopy.
Mature Height: 16-33 ft.
Mature Width: 10-20 ft.
Growth Rate: Moderate
Light Needs: Full sun
Key Advantages:Unique and ornamental appearance with cauliflorous flowering and fruiting.Prolific fruit producer.Fruit is a highly versatile souring agent in culinary uses
Landscape Uses:Tropical edible landscape specimen.Ornamental tree for gardens in frost-free climates.Container planting in temperate regions (with protection from cold)

Q: Can you eat it raw?
A: Not recommended. Its extreme sourness and high acid content make it unpleasant and potentially harsh on tooth enamel and the digestive system if eaten raw. It is always cooked or processed.

Q: How do you use it in cooking?
A: Use it like you would use tamarind, lemon, or vinegar. Add a few sliced fruits to fish curries, soups, or stews to impart a bright, tangy flavor. It can also be pickled or made into a sweet-and-sour jam.

Q: Why is it used as a rootstock?
A: Bilimbi rootstock is often used for grafting carambola because it imparts greater vigor, disease resistance, and adaptability to wetter soils to the sweet star fruit scion, while the bilimbi's own fruit is still produced on the lower branches.