Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
South America
Mexico, Central America
Types
Cucurbita maxima
Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario
Number of Varieties
203
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Moist Soils
Lowland, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-999911-15
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
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
500.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Gold
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Orange
Gold, Burgundy, Dark Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Light Green, Dark Green, Pink, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Light Green, Dark Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Light Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Broad, Unlobed
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water in the early morning hours
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune after flowering
Prune to stimulate growth, Prune twice a year, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Ammonia sulphate, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Borers, Insects, Phytophthora, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas, Wet Site
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Beetles, Bugs
-
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Nasal Congestion, Swelling, Swelling in the face
Diabetes, Diarrhea
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin and hair, Skin cleanser, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anemia, Antibacterial, anti-cancer, cholesterol-lowering, Fertility, High blood pressure, Immunity, Liver problems, Prevention of convulsion, Regulates Blood Sugar
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, Asthma, Cancer, Cardiovascular problems, constipation, High cholestrol, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Employed in herbal medicine, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making beverages
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
CUCURBITA maxima 'Atlantic Giant'
THEOBROMA cacao
Common Name
Atlantic Giant Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Cacao, Chocolate, Cocoa
In Hindi
कद्दू
कोको संयंत्र
In German
Kürbis
Kakaopflanze
In French
Citrouille
usine de cacao
In Spanish
Calabaza
planta del cacao
In Greek
Κολοκύθι
φυτό του κακάο
In Portuguese
Abóbora
planta do cacau
In Polish
Dynia
Kakao roślin
In Latin
cucurbita
Cocos herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Malvales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Sterculiaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Theobroma
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Cucurbiteae
Theobromeae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Byttneroideae
Number of Species
122
1
27800
👆🏻