Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable, Vines
Shrub
Origin
North America, Mexico, Central America
Madagascar
Types
Winter squash, Field pumpkin, Crookneck pumpkin
Euphorbia tithymaloides tithymaloides, Euphorbia tithymaloides angustifolia
Number of Varieties
88
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
close to waterfalls, Riverbanks, Warmer regions, waterways, Wet ground
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
1-69-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
-
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, 13, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
91.44 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
609.60 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow
Purple, Orange, Pink, Magenta
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Orange Red, Yellow Brown
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Gray Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Early Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Well drained
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Softwood cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
prune leaves so as to circulate fresh air, Remove Vines
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Scab
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Salt and Soil Compaction
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Beetles, Bugs
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Swelling in the face
Carcinogenic, Diarrhea, Skin irritation, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin and hair, Skin cleanser, Skin Problems
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anemia, Antibacterial, anti-cancer, cholesterol-lowering, High blood pressure, Immunity, Prevention of convulsion, Regulates Blood Sugar
Asthma, Emetic, Inflammation, Intestinal worms
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Tea-like beverage can be brewed, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Container, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CUCURBITA moschata 'Long Island Cheese'
Euphorbia tithymaloides
Common Name
Long Island Cheese Pumpkin, Winter Pumpkin
Devil's Backbone
In Hindi
चीनी कद्दू
Devil's Backbone
In German
chinesisch Kürbis
Devil's Backbone
In French
potiron chinois
Backbone du Diable
In Spanish
calabaza china
El espinazo del diablo
In Greek
κινέζικο κολοκύθα
Devil's Backbone
In Portuguese
abóbora chinês
Espinha do Diabo
In Polish
Chiński dyni
Kręgosłup diabła
In Latin
Chinese cucurbita
Narum diaboli
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Malpighiales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Crassulaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Cucurbiteae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
92000
1
27800
👆🏻