Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tender Perennial
Fruit
Origin
Southern Africa
Middle Africa, Southern Africa
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Low Elevation, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
-9999
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Lemon yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Green, Orange, Light Green, Dark Green, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Heart-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
reseeds, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Do not water excessively
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
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 dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Nematodes, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
-
Allergy
Skin irritation
Toxic
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Root
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
-
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
CUCUMIS metuliferus
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
African Horned Cucumber, Blowfish Fruit, Jelly Melon, Kiwano Melon
In Hindi
African Iris
Kiwano Melon
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Hornmelone
In French
African Iris
Cucumis metulifer
In Spanish
Iris africano
Cucumis metuliferus
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Kiwano Melon
In Portuguese
Iris africano
pepino africano
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Ogórek kiwano
In Latin
African Iris
Kiwano Melon
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Violales
Family
Iridaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Importance of African Iris and Kiwano Melon
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of African Iris and Kiwano Melon. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare African Iris and Kiwano Melon as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of African Iris is whereas of Kiwano Melon is Vermifuge. African Iris has beauty benefits as follows: while Kiwano Melon has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of African Iris vs Kiwano Melon
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of African Iris vs Kiwano Melon and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of African Iris are Skin irritation whereas of Kiwano Melon have Toxic respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. African Iris has no showy fruits and Kiwano Melon has showy fruits. Also African Iris is not flowering and Kiwano Melon is not flowering . You can compare African Iris and Kiwano Melon facts and facts of other plants too.