Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Palm or Cycad
Vegetable
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States
North America, Mexico, Central America
Types
Rhapidophyllum hystrix
Winter squash, Field pumpkin, Crookneck pumpkin
Number of Varieties
1520
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cold Regions, Subtropical climates
close to waterfalls, Riverbanks, Warmer regions, waterways, Wet ground
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-101-6
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-6
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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
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
Habit
Clump-Forming
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm91.44 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm609.60 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Yellow, Lavender
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Red, Brown, Sienna
Orange Red, Yellow Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Needle like
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Early Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs small amount of water
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water in the early morning hours
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove Vines
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Cold climate, Frost
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Rabbits, Small mammals
Beetles, Bugs
Allergy
drowsiness, Scratches
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Nasal Congestion, Swelling, Swelling in the face
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
bank hedging, Ornamental use
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin and hair, Skin cleanser, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Frostbite
Anemia, Antibacterial, anti-cancer, cholesterol-lowering, Fertility, High blood pressure, Immunity, Liver problems, Prevention of convulsion, Regulates Blood Sugar
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Application in Handicrafts, Showy Purposes
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
RHAPIDOPHYLLUM hystrix
CUCURBITA pepo 'Wolf'
Common Name
Needle Palm, Porcupine plant
Pumpkin
In Hindi
सुई ताड़
कद्दू
In German
Nadel -Palme
Kürbis
In French
palmier aiguille
Citrouille
In Spanish
palmera aguja
Calabaza
In Greek
βελόνα φοίνικα
Κολοκύθι
In Portuguese
palmeira agulha
Abóbora
In Polish
Igła palma
Dynia
In Latin
acus palma
cucurbita
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Arecales
Violales
Family
Arecaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Rhapidophyllum
Cucurbita
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Corypheae
Cucurbiteae
Subfamily
Coryphoideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
109
1
27800
👆🏻