Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
Latin America and the Caribbean
Central America, Mexico
Types
Heliconiaceae
Slicing, Pickling and burpless
Habitat
Humid climates, Warmer regions
Floodplains, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
7-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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
Thicket/Colonizing
Vining/Climbing
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Orange Red
Yellow, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Orange
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Heart-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes, Micropropagation
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
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, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune after flowering, Remove shoots
Fertilizers
Fertilize every two months
Compost, organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red blotch, Soft scales
Bacteria wilt, Fungal Diseases, fungus, Fusarium wilt, Leaf spot, Striped cucumber beetles
Plant Tolerance
Salt
Cold climate
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Hummingbirds, Insects
Ants, Birds, Flying insects, Insects, Rats, Squirrels
Allergy
Toxic
Throat itching, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Food for birds
Food for animals, Food for birds
Medicinal Uses
Healing
Antioxidants, Combats Stress, Fiber, Improve heart health, Indigestion, Inflammation, Rich in Iron
Part of Plant Used
Root, Seeds
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Florist trade and landscaping
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Tropical
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
HELICONIA psittacorum 'Lady Di'
MELOTHRIA scabra
Common Name
Heliconia, Lady Di Heliconia, Parakeet Flower
Mexican Sour Gherkins, cucamelon
In Hindi
Heliconia
Mousemelon
In German
Heliconia
Maus Melone
In French
Heliconia
Mousemelon
In Spanish
Heliconia
Mousemelon
In Greek
Heliconia
πεπόνι ποντίκι
In Portuguese
Heliconia
melão rato
In Polish
Heliconia
mysz melona
In Latin
Heliconia
mouse melon
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Cucurbitales
Family
Heliconiaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
-
Cucurbitoideae
Season and Care of Heliconia and Mouse Melon
Season and care of Heliconia and Mouse Melon is important to know. While considering everything about Heliconia and Mouse Melon Care, growing season is an essential factor. Heliconia season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Mouse Melon season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Heliconia is Loam, Sand and for Mouse Melon is Loam while the PH of soil for Heliconia is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Mouse Melon is Neutral.
Heliconia and Mouse Melon Physical Information
Heliconia and Mouse Melon physical information is very important for comparison. Heliconia height is 60.00 cm and width 150.00 cm whereas Mouse Melon height is 15.20 cm and width 180.00 cm. The color specification of Heliconia and Mouse Melon are as follows:
Heliconia flower color: White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange and Orange Red
Heliconia leaf color: Green
Mouse Melon flower color: Yellow and Gold
- Mouse Melon leaf color: Light Green
Care of Heliconia and Mouse Melon
Care of Heliconia and Mouse Melon include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Heliconia pruning is done Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Mouse Melon pruning is done Prune after flowering and Remove shoots. In summer Heliconia 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.