Life Span
Annual
Annual and Perennial
Type
Fruit
Tender Perennial
Origin
Middle Africa, Southern Africa
Eastern Africa
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
115
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Low Elevation, Woodlands
Rocky Ridges, Shores of rivers or lakes, Tropical Climate, tropical environments
USDA Hardiness Zone
-999911-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
7-1
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, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
240.00 cm25.40 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
10.00 cm25.40 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Lemon yellow
Purple, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Orange, Light Green, Dark Green, Orange Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam
Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
reseeds, Seedlings
Seedlings, stem tip cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively
Keep ground moist, Keep the Soil well drained, Medium, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Pinch Tips, Prune prior to new growth, Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Powdery mildew
Grey mold, Leaf spot, Mites, Root rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Butterflies, Flying insects, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Toxic
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Bouquets, Cut Flowers, Decorating walls, Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Vermifuge
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
-
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for bedding in gardens
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Container, Edging, Houseplant, Tropical
Botanical Name
CUCUMIS metuliferus
EXACUM affine
Common Name
African Horned Cucumber, Blowfish Fruit, Jelly Melon, Kiwano Melon
German Violet, Persian Violet
In Hindi
Kiwano Melon
persian violet
In German
Hornmelone
persian violet
In French
Cucumis metulifer
persian violet
In Spanish
Cucumis metuliferus
Violeta persa
In Greek
Kiwano Melon
Περσικό Violet
In Portuguese
pepino africano
Violeta persa
In Polish
Ogórek kiwano
Persian Violet
In Latin
Kiwano Melon
hyacinthum Persarum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Gentianales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Gentianaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Exacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Exaceae
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
125
1
27800
👆🏻