Balsam-apple

Balsam-apple

Momordica charantia

Momordica
Cucurbitaceae
Tropical Plants
Zone 912
🍎 Edible

Balsam-apple thrives in warm, humid conditions with at least 6 hours of sunlight and consistent moisture. Provide a trellis or support structure as it is a vigorous vining plant. Its bitter fruit is widely used in tropical cuisine and traditional medicine, making it a rewarding edible garden addition.

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 Deeply Until Soil Is Evenly Moist, Allowing The Top Inch To Dry Between Waterings

Temperature

60°95°F

Mature Spread

up to 24

Root Depth

Medium

Foliage

Coarse

Propagation: Seed

Ecology & Origin

Native to

Alabama
Andaman Is.
Angola
Argentina Northeast
Argentina Northwest
Aruba
Ascension
Assam
Bahamas
Bangladesh
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bolivia
Borneo
Brazil North
Brazil Northeast
Brazil South
Brazil Southeast
Brazil West-Central

Attracts

🐝 Bees
🐝 Butterflies
Safety & Use
🍎 Edible fruit
🍳 Culinary
⚕ Medicinal

Sources

Data: trefle, usda

Image: trefle.io — Taken Sep 14, 2014 by Thomas Delhotal (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.