Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Succulent
Vegetable
Origin
Southern Africa
America
Types
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Cucurbita pepo
Number of Varieties
3020
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
agricultural areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
-
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Bushy, Evergreen
Plant Size
Minimum Height
250.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
121.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Red
Purple, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Heart shaped, toothed with three to five lobes
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
-
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Moist, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Drought, Pollution, Shade areas, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Do not water excessively
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
cut main flower spike, Proper mowing practices are necessary, Remove damaged fruit
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Balanced liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks, Compost
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free
Bacterial Stem Rot, Mildew, Red blotch, Ring Rot, White spots
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Shade areas, Shallow soil, Soil Compaction
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Leafminer, Mice, Rodents
Allergy
-
Sore Throat, Stomach pain
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Ornamental use
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Anti-ageing, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Fixes Nitrogen, Food for animals
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Antibacterial, Antioxidants, Detoxification, Rich in Potassium, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Stem
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Cattle Fodder, Culinary use, Used as a laxative
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Container, Edible, Herb, Vegetable
Botanical Name
PORTULACARIA afra
Cucurbita pepo
Common Name
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
Zucchini, courgette
In Hindi
Elephant Bush
तोरी
In German
Elephant Bush
Zucchini
In French
Elephant Bush
Courgette
In Spanish
elefante Bush
calabacín
In Greek
ελέφαντας Μπους
κολοκύθι
In Portuguese
elefante de Bush
abobrinha
In Polish
Elephant Bush
Kabaczek
In Latin
bush elephant
zucchini
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Embryophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Violales
Family
Portulacaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Portulacaria
Cucurbita
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Portulacarioideae
Solanoideae
Number of Species
1-
1
27800
👆🏻