Life Span
Annual
Annual
Type
Fruit
Shrub
Origin
Middle Africa, Southern Africa
Melanesia
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
112
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Low Elevation, Woodlands
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-999910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
12-1
Sunset Zone
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, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
10.00 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Lemon yellow
Red, Green, Copper
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Orange, Light Green, Dark Green, Orange Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Chartreuse, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
White, Yellow, Green, Purple, Orange, Dark Green, Pink, Rose, Burgundy, Copper, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Reniform
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Variety of soil types
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
reseeds, Seedlings
Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively
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, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Powdery mildew
Aphids, Mites, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Variety of soil types
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds
Allergy
Toxic
bronchial asthma, Rhinoconjunctivitis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Vermifuge
Abdominal Disease, Antibacterial, Antifungal, Cough, Headache, Kidney problems
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Leaves, Twigs
Other Uses
-
Basketary, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
CUCUMIS metuliferus
ACALYPHA wilkesiana
Common Name
African Horned Cucumber, Blowfish Fruit, Jelly Melon, Kiwano Melon
Copperleaf
In Hindi
Kiwano Melon
Copperleaf
In German
Hornmelone
Copperleaf
In French
Cucumis metulifer
Copperleaf
In Spanish
Cucumis metuliferus
copperleaf
In Greek
Kiwano Melon
Copperleaf
In Portuguese
pepino africano
Copperleaf
In Polish
Ogórek kiwano
CopperLeaf
In Latin
Kiwano Melon
Copperleaf
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Euphorbiales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Acalypha
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Acalypheae
Subfamily
-
Acalyphoideae
Number of Species
1462
1
27800
👆🏻