Origin
Southern Africa
Central America, Mexico
Types
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Slicing, Pickling and burpless
Habitat
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
Floodplains, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11
7-8
Sunset Zone
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Vining/Climbing
Flower Color
White
Yellow, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Light Red
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Leaf Shape
Elliptic and Ovate
Heart-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Shade areas
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
Keep ground moist, Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune after flowering, Remove shoots
Fertilizers
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Compost, organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Bacteria wilt, Fungal Diseases, fungus, Fusarium wilt, Leaf spot, Striped cucumber beetles
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas
Cold climate
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Birds
Ants, Birds, Flying insects, Insects, Rats, Squirrels
Allergy
Toxic
Throat itching, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Food for animals, Food for birds
Medicinal Uses
-
Antioxidants, Combats Stress, Fiber, Improve heart health, Indigestion, Inflammation, Rich in Iron
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
CARISSA macrocarpa
MELOTHRIA scabra
Common Name
Carissia
Mexican Sour Gherkins, cucamelon
In Hindi
Carissa
Mousemelon
In German
carissa
Maus Melone
In French
carissa
Mousemelon
In Spanish
carissa
Mousemelon
In Greek
carissa
πεπόνι ποντίκι
In Portuguese
carissa
melão rato
In Polish
carissa
mysz melona
In Latin
carissa
mouse melon
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Gentianales
Cucurbitales
Family
Apocynaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Carisseae
Melothrieae
Subfamily
Rauvolfioideae
Cucurbitoideae
Season and Care of Carissa and Mouse Melon
Season and care of Carissa and Mouse Melon is important to know. While considering everything about Carissa and Mouse Melon Care, growing season is an essential factor. Carissa season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Mouse Melon season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Carissa is Loam, Sand and for Mouse Melon is Loam while the PH of soil for Carissa is Acidic, Neutral and for Mouse Melon is Neutral.
Carissa and Mouse Melon Physical Information
Carissa and Mouse Melon physical information is very important for comparison. Carissa height is 90.00 cm and width 60.00 cm whereas Mouse Melon height is 15.20 cm and width 180.00 cm. The color specification of Carissa and Mouse Melon are as follows:
Carissa flower color: White
Carissa leaf color: Dark Green
Mouse Melon flower color: Yellow and Gold
- Mouse Melon leaf color: Light Green
Care of Carissa and Mouse Melon
Care of Carissa and Mouse Melon include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Carissa pruning is done Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Mouse Melon pruning is done Prune after flowering and Remove shoots. In summer Carissa needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Mouse Melon needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.