Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Origin
Middle Africa, Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Types
-
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
Habitat
Low Elevation, Woodlands
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
10-12
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
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Twisted/Contorted
Flower Color
Lemon yellow
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Orange, Light Green, Dark Green, Orange Red
Green, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Succulent
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
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, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Spring
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
reseeds, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Powdery mildew
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Vermifuge
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
-
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
CUCUMIS metuliferus
PORTULACARIA afra
Common Name
African Horned Cucumber, Blowfish Fruit, Jelly Melon, Kiwano Melon
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
In Hindi
Kiwano Melon
Elephant Bush
In German
Hornmelone
Elephant Bush
In French
Cucumis metulifer
Elephant Bush
In Spanish
Cucumis metuliferus
elefante Bush
In Greek
Kiwano Melon
ελέφαντας Μπους
In Portuguese
pepino africano
elefante de Bush
In Polish
Ogórek kiwano
Elephant Bush
In Latin
Kiwano Melon
bush elephant
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Caryophyllales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Portulacaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Portulacaria
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Subfamily
-
Portulacarioideae
Importance of Kiwano Melon and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Kiwano Melon and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Kiwano Melon and Elephant Bush as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Kiwano Melon is Vermifuge whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Kiwano Melon has beauty benefits as follows: while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Kiwano Melon vs Elephant Bush
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Kiwano Melon vs Elephant Bush and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Kiwano Melon are Toxic whereas of Elephant Bush have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Kiwano Melon has showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Kiwano Melon is not flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Kiwano Melon and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.