Waxgourd
Benincasa hispida
- Native to:
- Australia, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Guam, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Maluku, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Palau, Solomon Is., Sulawesi
Akshay.paramatmuni1987 (left photo), মৌচুমী (bottom right photo), Zhangzhugang (upper right photo), montage by User:RoRo
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cucurbitaceae
- Genus:
- Benincasa
- Species:
- Benincasa hispida
- USDA Symbol:
- BEHI3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 300 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Phidotricha erigens
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, beneficial insects
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to tropical and subtropical regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–14 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best at warm temperatures 25-30°C. Soaking seeds for 24 hours before planting may improve germination rate.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI