Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Origin
North America, Mexico, Central America
Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
Habitat
Loamy soils, Moist Soils, Subtropical climates
Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-7
10-12
Sunset Zone
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
H2, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Yellow, Orange, Dark Green
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Dark Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Leaf Shape
Palmate
Maple shaped
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires regular watering
Water daily during growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Moderate
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut out old flower stalks, Prune after flowering, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount, Apply 12-12-12 amounts, Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Army-worms, Bacteria wilt, Bacterial leaf spot, Blight, Cucumber beetles, Cutworms, Fusarium leaf spot, Red spider mite
Aphids, Insects
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Attracts
Bees, Flies, Flying insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Hypoglycaemic Coma, Irregular Heart Rhythm, Miscarriage
Nausea, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
Acne, For treating wrinkles, Improve hair condition, Nourishes scalp, Removes dandruff
For treating wrinkles, Moisturizing, used as a dye
Edible Uses
Yes
Sometimes
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Insect Repellent
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Medicinal Uses
Anti-fungal, Detoxification, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal disorders, Weight loss
Cramps, Dermatitis
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Repellent, Use in Chinese herbology
Can be made into a herbal tea, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Sauces, Used as firewood
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Vine
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
CUCURBITA pepo 'Bicolor Pear'
ALEURITES moluccanus
Common Name
Bicolor Pear Gourd, Ornamental Gourd
Candleberry, Candlenut, Kukui
In Hindi
करेला
Aleurites moluccanus
In German
Bittermelone
Lichtnussbaum
In French
Momordica charantia
Aleurites moluccana
In Spanish
Momordica charantia
Aleurites moluccanus
In Greek
-
Aleurites moluccanus
In Portuguese
Momordica
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Polish
Przepękla ogórkowata
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Latin
-
Aleurites moluccanus
Phylum
Spermatophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Euphorbiales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Momordica
Aleurites
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Crotonoideae
Importance of Bitter Gourd and Kukui
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Bitter Gourd and Kukui. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Bitter Gourd and Kukui 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 Bitter Gourd is Anti-fungal, Detoxification, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal disorders and Weight loss whereas of Kukui is Cramps and Dermatitis. Bitter Gourd has beauty benefits as follows: Acne, For treating wrinkles, Improve hair condition, Nourishes scalp and Removes dandruff while Kukui has beauty benefits as follows: Acne, For treating wrinkles, Improve hair condition, Nourishes scalp and Removes dandruff.
Compare Facts of Bitter Gourd vs Kukui
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 Bitter Gourd vs Kukui 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 Bitter Gourd are Hypoglycaemic Coma, Irregular Heart Rhythm and Miscarriage whereas of Kukui have Nausea and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Bitter Gourd has showy fruits and Kukui has showy fruits. Also Bitter Gourd is not flowering and Kukui is not flowering . You can compare Bitter Gourd and Kukui facts and facts of other plants too.