Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Cactus or Succulent, Ornamental Plants, Perennial
Origin
North America, Mexico, Central America
Madagascar
Types
-
P. ambongense P. baronii P. bicolor P. bispinosum P. brevicaule P. cactipes P. decaryi P. densiflorum P. eburneum P. geayi P. gracilius
Number of Varieties
80192
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Loamy soils, Moist Soils, Subtropical climates
Rocky areas, Tropical areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-79-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-10
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
H1, H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.00 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Orange, Dark Green
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Yellow, Dark Green
Gray Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Palmate
Long Narrow
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires regular watering
Drought Tolerant, Reduce watering in winter
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Moist, Sand, Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Cut out old flower stalks, Prune after flowering, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune in winter, Prune to stimulate growth, 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, Fertilize in early spring, fertilize in early summer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Army-worms, Bacteria wilt, Bacterial leaf spot, Blight, Cucumber beetles, Cutworms, Fusarium leaf spot, Red spider mite
Aphids, Dry root rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction
Drought
Flowers
Showy
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flies, Flying insects
-
Allergy
Hypoglycaemic Coma, Irregular Heart Rhythm, Miscarriage
poisonous if ingested, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Borders, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Acne, For treating wrinkles, Improve hair condition, Nourishes scalp, Removes dandruff
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anti-fungal, Detoxification, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal disorders, Weight loss
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
-
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Repellent, Use in Chinese herbology
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Vine
Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CUCURBITA pepo 'Bicolor Pear'
PACHYPODIUM lamerei
Common Name
Bicolor Pear Gourd, Ornamental Gourd
Madagascar Palm, Club Foot
In Hindi
करेला
Madagascar palm
In German
Bittermelone
Madagaskarpalme
In French
Momordica charantia
Pachypodium de Madagascar
In Spanish
Momordica charantia
Palma de Madagascar
In Greek
-
Pachypodium
In Portuguese
Momordica
Palmeirinha-de-madagáscar, Palmeira-de-madagáscar
In Polish
Przepękla ogórkowata
Pachypodium
In Latin
-
Mandacaru
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Spermatophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Violales
Gentianales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Momordica
pachypodium
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Malouetieae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Apocynoideae
Number of Species
8025
1
27800
👆🏻