Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tender Perennial
Origin
South America
Latin America and the Caribbean
Types
Cucurbita maxima
Heliconiaceae
Number of Varieties
20194
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Moist Soils
Humid climates, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-999910-15
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, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Thicket/Colonizing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
500.00 cm150.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Gold
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Orange
Red, Orange
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
From Rhizomes, Micropropagation
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
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
Average Water Needs
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
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune after flowering
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Fertilize every two months
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Salt
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
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
Hummingbirds, Insects
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Nasal Congestion, Swelling, Swelling in the face
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin and hair, Skin cleanser, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for birds
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anemia, Antibacterial, anti-cancer, cholesterol-lowering, Fertility, High blood pressure, Immunity, Liver problems, Prevention of convulsion, Regulates Blood Sugar
Healing
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Root, Seeds
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Florist trade and landscaping
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
CUCURBITA maxima 'Atlantic Giant'
HELICONIA psittacorum 'Lady Di'
Common Name
Atlantic Giant Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Heliconia, Lady Di Heliconia, Parakeet Flower
In Hindi
कद्दू
Heliconia
In German
Kürbis
Heliconia
In French
Citrouille
Heliconia
In Spanish
Calabaza
Heliconia
In Greek
Κολοκύθι
Heliconia
In Portuguese
Abóbora
Heliconia
In Polish
Dynia
Heliconia
In Latin
cucurbita
Heliconia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Violales
Zingiberales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Heliconiaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Heliconia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Cucurbiteae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
1198
1
27800
👆🏻