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Cucurbitaceae
Luffa aegyptiaca
Luffa aegyptiaca
Also known as Turia cordata, Luffa fricatoria, Luffa cylindrica var. triangularis, Luffa insularum
Tropical Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Native Plants · Luffa · Sponge Gourd · Tropical Vine · Climbing Plant · Edible · Natural Sponge · Gourd · Cucurbit · Trellis · Warm Season
Luffa (sponge gourd) is a fast-climbing annual vine in most temperate climates that requires a strong trellis, full sun, and consistently moist, fertile soil. Water regularly and feed with a balanced fertiliser every two weeks during the growing season to support its vigorous growth. Allow fruits to fully dry and brown on the vine before harvesting to use the fibrous interior as a natural sponge.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 8 hours
- Watering
- Water deeply and consistently; keep soil evenly moist but ensure good drainage to prevent root rot · Every 5-7 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Temperature
- 60°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 9a-12b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 24 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Coarse
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Albania, Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Assam, Bangladesh, Benin, Bismarck Archipelago, Bolivia, Brazil South, Burkina, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caroline Is., Central African Repu, Chad, China South-Central, China Southeast
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle
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