$11.00–$18.00
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trefle.io · Taken Apr 3, 2016 by Laurent Seret (cc-by-sa)
Cucurbitaceae
African horned cucumber
Cucumis metuliferus
Also known as Cucumis tinneanus, Jelly melon, Kiwano, Horned melon
Zones 9–12Sun Full SunWater ModerateCare Moderate
Tropical Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Native Plants · Vine · Tropical · Cucurbit · Exotic Fruit · African · Ornamental · Trellis · Novelty · Climbing · Cucurbitaceae
TropicalCulinaryAttracts pollinators
In stock at 1 nurseryStock updated 9/9/2026
The African horned cucumber is a vigorous vine that prefers warm temperatures, plenty of sunlight, and consistent moisture to produce its striking spiny orange-yellow fruits. Provide a sturdy trellis or support for the climbing stems and ensure well-draining soil to prevent root rot. It is best grown as an annual in temperate climates or year-round in warm, frost-free gardens.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately, keeping soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; reduce watering in cooler months · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Temperature
- 60°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 9a-12b
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Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 36 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Coarse
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina, Cameroon, Central African Repu, Chad, Ethiopia, Florida, Gabon, Guinea, Gulf Of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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