Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Fruit
Tree
Origin
Middle Africa, Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia, China
Types
-
Brewster, Mauritius, Hak ip
Number of Varieties
130
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Low Elevation, Woodlands
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-999910-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
12-9
Sunset Zone
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
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm910.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
10.00 cm1,070.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Lemon yellow
Light Yellow, Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Orange, Light Green, Dark Green, Orange Red
Red, Magenta
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Red, Dark Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Long Linear
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
reseeds, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
High
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Twice a week
In Winter
Average Water
Regular watering required
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune after harvesting, Prune lower leaves, Prune to control growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize after blooming period
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Powdery mildew
Aphids, fungus, Leaf curl
Plant Tolerance
Drought
-
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
-
Allergy
Toxic
Itchiness
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
-
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Vermifuge
anti-allergy, Bone strength, Digestive disorders, Heart problems
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Fruits
Other Uses
-
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Edible, Feature Plant, Foundation, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
CUCUMIS metuliferus
LITCHI chinensis
Common Name
African Horned Cucumber, Blowfish Fruit, Jelly Melon, Kiwano Melon
Litchee, Litchi, Lychee
In Hindi
Kiwano Melon
लीची
In German
Hornmelone
Lychee
In French
Cucumis metulifer
Lychee
In Spanish
Cucumis metuliferus
Lychee
In Greek
Kiwano Melon
λίτσι
In Portuguese
pepino africano
lichia
In Polish
Ogórek kiwano
Lychee
In Latin
Kiwano Melon
Lychee
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Sapindales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Sapindaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Litchi Sonn
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Sapindoideae
Number of Species
13
1
27800
👆🏻