Life Span
Annual
Annual
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Fruit
Origin
China
Middle Africa, Southern Africa
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
31
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Banks, Slopes
Low Elevation, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-9-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-5
Sunset Zone
21,22
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
Oval or Rounded
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm10.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
Lemon yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Purple, Black
Green, Orange, Light Green, Dark Green, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green, Yellow green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Late Winter
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Pollution, Shade areas
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Semi-hardwood cuttings
reseeds, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Keep the Soil well drained
Do not water excessively
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, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade, Full Shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in spring, Prune in summer, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, use all-purpose fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Sooty Mold
Nematodes, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought, Pollution, Shade areas
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
-
Allergy
-
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for birds
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Food for animals, Showy Purposes
-
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
SARCOCOCCA confusa
CUCUMIS metuliferus
Common Name
Sweet Box
African Horned Cucumber, Blowfish Fruit, Jelly Melon, Kiwano Melon
In Hindi
Sarcococca confusa
Kiwano Melon
In German
Sarcococca verwirrt
Hornmelone
In French
Sarcococca confus
Cucumis metulifer
In Spanish
Sarcococca confundido
Cucumis metuliferus
In Greek
Sarcococca συγχέεται
Kiwano Melon
In Portuguese
Sarcococca confuso
pepino africano
In Polish
sarcococca mylić
Ogórek kiwano
In Latin
confusa Sarcococca
Kiwano Melon
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Buxales
Violales
Family
Buxaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Sarcococca
Cucumis
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
-
Number of Species
201
1
27800
👆🏻