Latin name - Averrhoa bilimbi

Bilimbi is Starfruit’s more rare and tropical cousin, which can be grown successfully in Florida but must be protected when temperatures reach the low 40s.  Bilimbi fruit are sour and acidic, sometimes eaten fresh but often used to make juices and add flavor to cooked dishes (similar to a lime).  They resemble miniature pickles in shape but are light yellowish-green in color, with a thin skin and soft juicy flesh.  The tree itself grows upright and bushy, growing up to 50 feet near the equator but rarely exceeding 12-15 feet in Florida.

Bilimbi can grow in full sun, but is also well suited for partial shade, so you can plant yours in a more sheltered and wind-protected area.  They can start fruiting at about 3 years old.  Bilimbi fruits hang in clusters on the tree and are very abundant, fruiting mostly in the fall but usually found throughout the year.  

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Size: 15’ tall x 8’ wide

Sun Requirements: Part shade to full sun

Cold Hardy: 41 degrees can kill the tree.  Plant in a protected microclimate.

Harvest Season:  Year-round

Watering requirements: Loves water, not drought tolerant

Food Forest Layer: Canopy, Sub Canopy