Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tree
Fruit
Origin
India, Nepal, China
Middle Africa, Southern Africa
Types
Betula utilis
-
Number of Varieties
21
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Mountains
Low Elevation, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-7-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-5
12-5
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17
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
Habit
Pyramidal
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
760.00 cm10.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Tan, Brown
Lemon yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green, Orange, Light Green, Dark Green, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Yellow green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Cordiform
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Cutting
reseeds, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires watering in the growing season
Do not water excessively
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize in late fall, slow-release fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Honey fungus, Leaves with brown tip, Phytophthora Root Rot, Powdery mildew, Verticillium Wilt
Nematodes, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions, waterlogging, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
-
Allergy
-
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
Beauty Benefits
Weightloss
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Antioxidants, Antiseptic, Carminative
Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used in construction, Wood is used in construction
-
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
BETULA utilis
CUCUMIS metuliferus
Common Name
Himalayan Birch
African Horned Cucumber, Blowfish Fruit, Jelly Melon, Kiwano Melon
In Hindi
हिमालय सन्टी
Kiwano Melon
In German
Himalaya-Birke
Hornmelone
In French
bouleau de l'Himalaya
Cucumis metulifer
In Spanish
abedul del Himalaya
Cucumis metuliferus
In Greek
Himalayan σημύδας
Kiwano Melon
In Portuguese
bétula Himalaia
pepino africano
In Polish
Himalayan brzoza
Ogórek kiwano
In Latin
Birch Himalayan
Kiwano Melon
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Violales
Family
Betulaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Betula
Cucumis
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
301
1
27800
👆🏻