Family: Bignoniaceae
Scientific name: Crescentia cujete
Common name: Calabash tree
Origin: Caribbean
The Calabash can reach a height of 10 meters in nature, with many horizontal branches and young ones that are square-shaped. The green flowers grow on the trunk and are pollinated by bats. The round fruits, which can be 40 cm wide, are also green and have a moisty, black pulp. Raw fruits are poisonous, but the seeds can be eaten when they are roasted. The hard, thick skin of the fruits is used for wood carvings.
This species can also be kept as a container plant. It can even withstand some degrees of frost.
Sowing description: Sow seeds in sowing mix and let them germinate at 23-28 degC. Keep the soil constantly moist.
Sowing time: Whole year
Difficulty: Intermediate
Minimum temperature: -3 degrees Celsius
Photo 2: Gimi974 via visoflora.com
