Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi)

Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit with maroon flowers hanging from a textured woody branch close up.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) cluster of long green fruit with small maroon flowers hanging on tree trunk.

Botanical name: Averrhoa bilimbi

Common names: Bilimbi, Cucumber Tree, Tree Sorrel, Kamias, Belimbing Asam, Belimbing Buloh, Membrillo

Family: Oxalidaceae

Origin: Moluccas

USDA Plant Hardiness Map

USDA Zone: 10-11?

USDA Plant Hardiness MapLarge tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunWatering: Regular. Let topsoil dry slightlyEdible plant

It is very common in Thailand, Malaya and Singapore. The bilimbi is closely allied to the carambola but quite different in appearance, manner of fruiting, flavor and uses. The only strictly English names are "cucumber tree" and "tree sorrel". "Bilimbi" is the common name in India and has become widely used. The tree is attractive, reaches 35 ft in height. Small, fragrant, yellowish-green or purplish flowers marked with dark-purple, are borne in small, hairy panicles emerging directly from the trunk and oldest, thickest branches and some twigs, as do the clusters of curious fruits resembling small cucumbers that grow on strunk and stems. The bilimbi is generally regarded as too acid for eating raw, but in some places, the green, uncooked fruits are prepared as a relish. Ripe fruits are frequently added to curries in the Far East or used in place of mango to make chutney. The fruit juice is popular for making cooling beverages on the order of lemonade. To reduce acidity, it may be first pricked and soaked in water overnight and boiled with sugar to make a jam or an acid jelly. Half-ripe fruits are salted, set out in the sun, and pickled in brine and can be thus kept for 3 months. A quicker pickle is made by putting the fruits and salt into boiling water. This product can be kept only 4 to 5 days. The flowers are sometimes preserved with sugar.

In Costa Rica, these tree is called membrillo = little dick fruits.

Read more about this fruit tree.

Similar plants: Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi)


Image gallery: 34 images
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit hanging from a branch in a close up photo
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit dangling in clusters from the trunk of the woody stem.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit close up growing directly on a thick wooden tree trunk.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) fruit hang in clusters directly from the trunk of the woody tree.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit growing on a sturdy woody trunk in close up.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) with young green fruit attached directly to the main tree trunk.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green plant with numerous thin leaves growing on a woody trunk.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) grows tall with feathery foliage on a thin brown trunk.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit hanging from a branch in a close up view
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) fruit cluster dangling from a woody branch with smooth green skin
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit growing directly on the thick textured tree trunk surface
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) clusters of oblong green fruit attached to the rough woody tree trunk
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit cluster growing on a tree with light green leaves.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) fruit growing in tight clusters amidst lush green pinnate leaves on branches.
Averrhoa bilimbi red flower cluster attached to woody stem in close up view
Averrhoa bilimbi red flower cluster grows directly from the thick woody tree trunk
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green leaves on tree branches, capturing soft light on many small leaflets.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) branch with many small, elongated green leaves attached to the central stems.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) with dark red flower clusters and pale green fruit close up.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) with small dark red flower clusters hanging from the woody tree trunk.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit close up hanging from a wooden branch in bunches.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) bunch of green fruit hanging from a thin wooden branch.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green plant with yellow leaves growing inside a plastic nursery container.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) with long branches and pointed green foliage inside a dark brown pot.
Averrhoa bilimbi red flower close up on textured trunk bark in natural light
Averrhoa bilimbi red flower growing directly from the textured woody plant trunk
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit with red flowers hanging in clusters on tree trunk.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) with clusters of small green fruit and deep red flowers on trunk.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit hanging in a thick cluster on a brown branch.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit hang in a dense cluster from a woody tree branch.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit hanging in a cluster from a textured brown branch
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) clusters of oblong green fruit hanging from a thick woody tree branch
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit hanging in a tight cluster on woody tree branch.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) dangling in clusters from the woody branches of the tree trunk.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit close up hanging from a thin brown stem.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit dangling from a slender stem near the ground.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green leaves on branches spread across the tree canopy under light
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) with lush green foliage extending from woody textured branches in the canopy
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) dark red flower close up against a muted soft green background
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) flower with five pointed petals in deep maroon and lighter center.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit and dark purple flower clusters on a tree branch.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) tree trunk bearing small green fruit alongside narrow dark purple flower petals.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) tree with dense green leaves, sunlight hitting the canopy top
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) tree showing branches laden with thick foliage under clear sky light
Averrhoa bilimbi maroon flower close up growing directly on tree trunk bark surface
Averrhoa bilimbi clusters of maroon flower petals emerge from the woody tree trunk.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) maroon red flower close up growing directly on the rough tree trunk
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) maroon red star-shaped flower clusters emerging directly from the thick, textured tree bark
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) with small red flowers and oblong light green fruit on trunk
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) displaying clusters of red flowers along with smooth light green cylinder fruit
Averrhoa bilimbi red flower close up growing from sturdy woody tree branches
Averrhoa bilimbi clusters of red flower petals emerging directly from tree wood
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) close up with small red flowers and light green hanging fruit
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) with distinct dark red flowers and oblong light green fruit on stems.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit clusters on wooden branches close up with small leaves
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit clusters hanging on woody branches with small green foliage leaves
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) dark red flower clusters with small lime green fruit close up
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) flower clusters emerge alongside small oval lime green fruit on tree bark.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) with bright green fruit and a small red flower close up.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) cluster of long green fruit with a tiny red flower attached.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) with deep maroon flower clusters in a close up plant view.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) cluster of small maroon flowers attached to a thin woody branch.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit growing along sturdy brown tree branches close up
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit clusters attached directly to the bark of tree branches
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit growing along the thick textured bark of a tree trunk.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) cluster of long green fruit attached directly to the main tree trunk.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) green fruit with a small deep red flower close up.
Averrhoa bilimbi (Bilimbi) cluster of green cylinder shaped fruit with one red flower attached.

zaq SingaporeUSDA Zone:war21 Jun 2008
this tree is easily grow from seed from the very ripe fruit .
Ritzie Orlando, Florida USAUSDA Zone:922 Jan 2008
I used to make sweet preserves out of bilimbi. I prick the fruits all around with a fork and try to squeeze as much juice with my gloved hand as I can without destroying the form of the fruit. I would then prepare a mixture of about 4 tablespoons of baking soda to one half gallon of water and would then soak the squeezed fruit overnight in this mixture. This step is important as it will neutralize the acidity of the fruit. The fruits are then rinsed in fresh water and squeezed again. Prepare syrup as you would when preparing preserves and cook the fruits in the syrup for a few minutes. I find the if you don't squeeze the water enough out of the fruit you will have a final product that has a watery syrup base as the water in the fruit dilutes the syrup that you have prepared. The resulting product is a sweet preserve devoid of any trace of acidity. you might have to prepare several batches and tweak the proportions until you get a product that suits you.
Georgie New Orleans, LA USA11 May 2006
I am from the Seychelles Islands, and this tree is definetely called the bilimbi. We use it a lot when cooking (special dishes)
Also we do love to eat it with salt as well.
It grows wild all over the islands.
Faerie USA, Philippines25 Oct 2005
Yes, this fruit and tree is called KAMIAS in the Philippines. Balimbing or Balimbi is the Starfruit (its relative)...
This is a very sour fruit... i like dipping it in salt and then eating it raw...
Also the ripe fruits that fall to the ground has its bleaching properties (just like other acids)... My grandmother use it while washing white laundry and it bleaches it great in an inexpensive and organic manner. Just squeeze it in with the white laundry (as ripe fruit is soft). It also provided a very fresh and clean scent... When we were kids, we also like chewing on the sour flowers and having fun with our purple spit...
ludette Philippines7 Apr 2004
I would like to correct the name of this plant...It is called KAMIAS.


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Cucumber tree (Averrhoa bilimbi)

2081 Cucumber tree (Averrhoa bilimbi)

Bilimbi, Cucumber tree, Tree Sorrel. Pretty tropical fruit tree with curious acid fruit that is good for drinks and has high content of vitamin C. See Article about this plant.
See picture of the actual tree for sale.
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