African horned cucumber

African horned cucumber

Cucumis metuliferus

Cucumis
Cucurbitaceae
Tropical Plants
Zone 912

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.

Care Requirements

Care Level

Moderate

Sun

Partial Shade

Water

Moderate

Growth Rate

Moderate

Mature Height

12″ – 36″

Soil

loam

Life Cycle

Perennial

Spacing

36

Watering Schedule

Every 5-7 Days • Water Moderately, Keeping Soil Consistently Moist But Not Waterlogged; Reduce Watering In Cooler Months

Temperature

60°95°F

Mature Spread

up to 24

Root Depth

Medium

Foliage

Coarse

Propagation: Seed

Ecology & Origin

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
Safety & Use
🍳 Culinary

Sources

Data: trefle, usda

Image: trefle.io — Taken Apr 3, 2016 by Laurent Seret (cc-by-sa)

Hardiness Zones
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Available From (0)

No nurseries currently have this species in stock.