Life Span
Annual and Biennials
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Fruit
  
Origin
India, Philippines, Southeast Asia
  
South Asia, Southeast Asia
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Moist Soils, Tropical Climate
  
Mediterranean region
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-7
  
8-10
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
Not Available
  
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Not Available
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Spreading
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Orange, Dark Green
  
White
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Yellow, Dark Green
  
Green, Lemon yellow, Yellow
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Palmate
  
Ovate
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
  
All year
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Rich
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Acidic
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Spring, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Full Sun
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Divison, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
High
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season, water on alternate days
  
Reduce watering once fruit are growing, Water daily during growing season
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Acidic
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Rich
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Cut out old flower stalks, Prune after flowering, Remove branches that rub together, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Prune to control growth, Remove dead branches
  
Fertilizers
High potassium diluted feed of 5-10-5, Nitrogen, Potassium
  
Fertilize in early to mid-summer, for fruiting plants, use high phosphorous content fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Army-worms, Bacteria wilt, Bacterial leaf spot, Blight, Cucumber beetles, Cutworms, Fusarium leaf spot, Leaf rust, Red spider mite, Striped cucumber beetles
  
Aphids, Citrus foot rot, Citrus gummosis, Citrus leaf miner, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
  
Full Sun
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Double, Semi-Double
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
Yes
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Bees, Flies, Flying insects
  
Ants, Birds
  
Allergy
Hypoglycaemic Coma, Irregular Heart Rhythm
  
Anaphylaxis, Cough, Nausea, Rhinitis, Stomach pain, Swelling, Urticaria, Vomiting, wheezing
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Decorating walls, Ornamental use
  
Farmland, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Anti-ageing, Making cosmetics
  
Acne, Good for skin, Good for the Scalp, Improve skin tone, Moisturizing, Strong, beautiful hair
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Insect Repellent
  
Food for animals, Very little waste
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Anti-fungal, Blood disorders, Culinary Usage, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal disorders, Laxative, Nutritive, Weight loss
  
anti-cancer, constipation, Digestive, Gastrointestinal disorders, Gout, Immunity, Jaundice, Respiratory Disorders, Rheumatoid arthritis, scurvy, Ulcers, Urinary problems, Weight loss
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
  
Fruits
  
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Repellent, Used in making musical instruments
  
Cosmetics, Used as a flavouring in food, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Vine
  
Edible, Fruit Tree, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
Lagenaria siceraria
  
Citrus limetta
  
Common Name
calabash, bottle gourd, white-flowered gourd, opo squash
  
sweet lime, sweet lemon, sweet limetta
  
In Hindi
लौकी
  
मौसम्बी
  
In German
Flaschenkürbis
  
süße Limone
  
In French
Lagenaria siceraria
  
Citrus limetta
  
In Spanish
Lagenaria siceraria
  
limetta dulce, limón dulce mediterráneo, limón dulce y lima dulce
  
In Greek
Τσότρα
  
γλυκό ασβέστη
  
In Portuguese
Cabaça
  
doce de limão
  
In Polish
Tykwa pospolita
  
słodkie limonki
  
In Latin
utrem cucurbita
  
dulcis ad cinerem
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Cucurbitales
  
Sapindales
  
Family
Cucurbitaceae
  
Rutaceae
  
Genus
Coccinia
  
Citrus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Not Available
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Citreae
  
Subfamily
Papilionoideae
  
Citroideae