Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus is an annual, creeping or climbing plant. Its shoots can grow up to three meters long. The lobed leaves can reach lengths of up to 20 centimeters. In Central Europe, the five-petaled, mostly yellow flowers can be seen from June through October.
Its native range is in northeastern Africa. As a popular fruit plant, Citrullus lanatus has also spread to other regions and established itself there.
The plants shown here are not the wild form but rather specimens growing wild that presumably reached this location as discarded food scraps.
Characteristics & Description
Height, habit: Annual herbaceous plant, up to 3 meters
Poisonous: The cultivated varieties are edible, but some wild forms may be poisonous.
Origin: The wild form originates from northeastern Africa (map)
USDA zone: 12 (50 °F/10 °C)
Botany
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Name: Citrullus lanatus
Categories: Fruit & Vegetables | Garden plants | Yellow & Orange Flowers |
