Balsampear
Momordica charantia
- Native to:
- Angola, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Borneo, Burkina, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Christmas I., Congo, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., India, Ivory Coast, Jawa, Kenya, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Society Is., Socotra, Solomon Is., South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan-South Sudan, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Uganda, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Salil Kumar Mukherjee
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cucurbitaceae
- Genus:
- Momordica
- Species:
- Momordica charantia
- USDA Symbol:
- MOCH2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
cucumber moth (Diaphania indica-complex), Eggplant Webworm Moth (Rhectocraspeda periusalis), pickleworm (Diaphania nitidalis), Pyrausta sp., stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
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:
- Thrives in warm, humid tropical climates
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Soak seeds 24 hours or nick seed coat before planting. Requires warm soil temperatures (70-85°F) for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months. Requires scarification. | Requires soaking 24-48 hrs; discard floaters.