Life Span
Annual
  
Annual
  
Type
Fruit
  
Tender Perennial
  
Origin
Middle Africa, Southern Africa
  
Southeastern Asia
  
Types
Not Available
  
Eddoe taro, Dasheen taro
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Low Elevation, Woodlands
  
agricultural areas, Hillside, Warm and moist climatic conditions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
10-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
  
12-8
  
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, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Lemon yellow
  
White, Green
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Green, Orange, Light Green, Dark Green, Orange Red
  
Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Dark Green, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Dark Green, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Dark Green, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Dark Green, Ivory
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
  
V-Shaped
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Partial shade, Full 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
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Heat Tolerance, Humidity, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container
  
How to Plant?
reseeds, Seedlings
  
From Rhizomes
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do not water excessively
  
Needs 2-3 times watering per week, Needs a lot of water initially
  
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
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
No pruning needed
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Less fertilizing
  
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Powdery mildew
  
Aphids, Rats, Snails
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Not Available
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Not Available
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Aphids, Bugs, Not Available, Snails
  
Allergy
Toxic
  
Swelling in mouth, Throat itching
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Available
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Poison Ivy, Skin cleanser, Weightloss
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent weeds
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Vermifuge
  
Aging, Laxative, Weight loss
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
  
Leaf Stalks, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Not Available
  
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
  
Container, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
CUCUMIS metuliferus
  
ALOCASIA micholitziana
  
Common Name
African Horned Cucumber, Blowfish Fruit, Jelly Melon, Kiwano Melon
  
Elephant Ear, Taro
  
In Hindi
Kiwano Melon
  
अरवी
  
In German
Hornmelone
  
Colocasia (Pflanzengattung)
  
In French
Cucumis metulifer
  
Colocasia
  
In Spanish
Cucumis metuliferus
  
Colocasia
  
In Greek
Kiwano Melon
  
Colocasia
  
In Portuguese
pepino africano
  
Colocasia
  
In Polish
Ogórek kiwano
  
Kolokazja
  
In Latin
Kiwano Melon
  
Colocasia
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Violales
  
Arales
  
Family
Cucurbitaceae
  
Araceae
  
Genus
Cucumis
  
Alocasia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Colocasiodeae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Aroideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available