Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Vegetable
Origin
Southeastern United States
Central America, Mexico
Types
-
Slicing, Pickling and burpless
Number of Varieties
423
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Sunny Edge, Woodlands
Floodplains, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-97-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-1
Sunset Zone
21,22
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
Upright/Erect
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm15.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
150.00 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
Yellow, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Olive
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Olive
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Olive
Green, Dark Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long, Alternate
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
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
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune after flowering, Remove shoots
Fertilizers
Compost
Compost, organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
Fungal Diseases
Bacteria wilt, Fungal Diseases, fungus, Fusarium wilt, Leaf spot, Striped cucumber beetles
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Cold climate
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
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
Dogs
Ants, Birds, Flying insects, Insects, Rats, Squirrels
Allergy
Hypertonia, Nausea, Spasms, Vomiting
Throat itching, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Erosion control
Food for animals, Food for birds
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antibacterial, Appetizer, Expectorant, Homeopathy
Antioxidants, Combats Stress, Fiber, Improve heart health, Indigestion, Inflammation, Rich in Iron
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as essential oil, Used in flavouring curries, teas, Used to sweeten the breath
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical, Wildflower
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
ILLICIUM parviflorum
MELOTHRIA scabra
Common Name
Chinese Star Anise, Badiam
Mexican Sour Gherkins, cucamelon
In Hindi
चक्र फूल
Mousemelon
In German
Sternanis
Maus Melone
In French
Anis étoilé
Mousemelon
In Spanish
Anís estrellado
Mousemelon
In Greek
Γλυκάνισο
πεπόνι ποντίκι
In Portuguese
Star Anise
melão rato
In Polish
Anyż
mysz melona
In Latin
Star Anise
mouse melon
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Illiciales
Cucurbitales
Family
Illiciaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Illicium
Cucumis
Clade
Angiosperms
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Illicieae
Melothrieae
Subfamily
Illicioideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
4250
1
27800
👆🏻