Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent
Vegetable
Origin
Mexico
North America, Mexico, Central America
Types
Cephalocereus senilis
Winter squash, Field pumpkin, Crookneck pumpkin
Number of Varieties
120
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dry areas, Forest margins, gardens, Semi arid regions, Semi desert
close to waterfalls, Riverbanks, Warmer regions, waterways, Wet ground
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-151-6
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, 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
Narrow Upright/Fastigiate
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm91.44 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm609.60 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Light Pink
Orange Red, Yellow Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
White
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
White
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
White
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
White
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Funnel shaped
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Early Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Water when soil is dry
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water in the early morning hours
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove Vines
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Beetles, Bugs
Allergy
Skin irritation
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Nasal Congestion, Swelling, Swelling in the face
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin and hair, Skin cleanser, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Anemia, Antibacterial, anti-cancer, cholesterol-lowering, Fertility, High blood pressure, Immunity, Liver problems, Prevention of convulsion, Regulates Blood Sugar
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Hair
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Hair is used in making sweaters, Showy Purposes
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
CEPHALOCEREUS senilis
CUCURBITA pepo 'Wolf'
Common Name
Bunny Cactus
White Persian Cat cactus
Pumpkin
In Hindi
ओल्ड मैन कैक्टस
कद्दू
In German
Old Man Cactus
Kürbis
In French
Old Man Cactus
Citrouille
In Spanish
Viejo Cactus
Calabaza
In Greek
Γέρος Cactus
Κολοκύθι
In Portuguese
Old Man Cactus
Abóbora
In Polish
Stary Cactus
Dynia
In Latin
Senem Cactus
cucurbita
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Violales
Family
Cactaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cephalocereus
Cucurbita
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Pachycereeae
Cucurbiteae
Subfamily
Cactoideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
2009
1
27800
👆🏻