Oysternut
Telfairia occidentalis
- Native to:
- Benin, Cabinda, Cameroon, Congo, DR Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Gulf of Guinea Is., Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Cucurbitaceae
- Genus:
- Telfairia
- Species:
- Telfairia occidentalis
- USDA Symbol:
- TEOC2
Growth Characteristics
- Height:
- 500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- native to tropical West Africa, prefers fertile soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–28 days
- Notes:
- Seeds should be planted fresh as viability decreases rapidly. Sow with pointed end down, partially exposed above soil surface.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI