Life Span
Biennial
Annual
Type
Tree
Fruit
Origin
-
Middle Africa, Southern Africa
Types
Chinese red birch, Betula fruticosa, Betula ermanii
-
Number of Varieties
601
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Rocky areas, Sandy areas, Well Drained, Wet forest, Wet ground, Wet lands
Low Elevation, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-7-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-1
12-5
Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16
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
Pyramidal
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,219.20 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm10.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Tan
Lemon yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Bronze, Sandy Brown
Green, Orange, Light Green, Dark Green, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Red, Orange
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
reseeds, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Do not water excessively
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove short branches
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize in late fall, Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Nematodes, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
-
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Birds, Insects
-
Allergy
Itchiness, Pollen, Sore Throat
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, Bone strength, Dermatitis, Eczema, Eliminate toxins, Heart problems, High cholestrol, Immunity, Kidney problems
Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used in paper industry
-
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Shade Trees
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
BETULA 'Crimson Frost'
CUCUMIS metuliferus
Common Name
Birch, Crimson Frost Birch
African Horned Cucumber, Blowfish Fruit, Jelly Melon, Kiwano Melon
In Hindi
भोज पत्र
Kiwano Melon
In German
Birke
Hornmelone
In French
Arbre de bouleau
Cucumis metulifer
In Spanish
Abedul
Cucumis metuliferus
In Greek
Birch Tree
Kiwano Melon
In Portuguese
bétula
pepino africano
In Polish
Brzoza
Ogórek kiwano
In Latin
Caerulus
Kiwano Melon
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Violales
Family
Betulaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Betula
Cucumis
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Carpinaceae
-
Number of Species
341
1
27800
👆🏻