Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
- Native to:
- Egypt, Ethiopia, Guam, Libya, Navassa Island, Palau, Sudan-South Sudan
Fred Hsu ( Wikipedia:User:Fred Hsu (en.wikipedia.org) on en.wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org) )
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cucurbitaceae
- Genus:
- Citrullus
- Species:
- Citrullus lanatus
- USDA Symbol:
- CILA3
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 50 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
Alfalfa Looper (Autographa californica), Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), melonworm moth (Diaphania hyalinata), Old Man Dart (Agrotis vetusta), Phyllira Tiger Moth (Grammia phyllira), Pyrausta sp., Salt Marsh Moth (Estigmene acrea), Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica), White-lined sphinx moth (Hyles lineata)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, birds, small mammals
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil
- pH:
- 5.8 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Native to arid regions; prefers sandy soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 4–14 days
- Notes:
- Requires warm soil temperatures of 70-95°F for optimal germination. Direct sow after last frost when soil has warmed.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI