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Summary
Physical Characteristics
Coccinia grandis is a PERENNIAL growing to 3 m (9ft 10in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in flower from August to September. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Bryonia acerifolia D.Dietr. Bryonia alceifolia Willd. Bryonia barbata Buch.-Ham. ex Cogn.
Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves
Edible Uses:
Young leaves and long slender stem tops - cooked and eaten as a potherb or added to soups[46, 61, 105, 177, 183, 272]. Young and tender green fruits - raw in salads or cooked and added to curries etc[2, 46, 61, 105, 177, 183]. Ripe scarlet fruit - raw. Fleshy and sweet[183]. The fruit is up to 5cm long[200].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Hypoglycaemic Laxative Miscellany Ophthalmic Poultice VD
The juice of the roots and leaves is considered to be a useful treatment for diabetes[240, 272]. The juice of the stem is dripped into the eyes to treat cataracts[272]. The leaves are used as a poultice in treating skin eruptions[240]. The plant is laxative[61]. It is used internally in the treatment of gonorrhoea[240]. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the plant have shown hypoglycaemic principles[240].
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Succeeds in any soil[1] but prefers a sunny sheltered position in a humus-rich open soil[164]. Keep the plant well watered in the growing season[164]. Occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit in tropical and sub-tropical zones[46, 61], this plant is not hardy in Britain and normally requires greenhouse protection if it is to fruit here[200]. However, it may succeed outdoors as a tender annual in hot summers if given a suitable position and started off early in the greenhouse. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed and fruits are required.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
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Propagation
Seed - sow March in a warm greenhouse in pots of fairly rich soil placing 2 - 3 seeds in each pot. The seed usually germinates within 2 - 4 weeks at 20°c[164]. Thin to the best seedling in each pot and grow them on fast, giving occasional liquid feeds. Plant out after the last expected frosts and give the plants some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away well.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
ivy gourd; kovai fruit; little gourd; scarlet gourd; tindora.
Spanish: pepino cimarrón.
Chinese: hong gua.
Bangladesh: telakucha.
Germany: Scharlachranke; Tindola.
India: ban-kundri (Oriya); bimbika (Sanskrit); donda kaya (Telugu); kova (Malayalam); koval (Malayalam); kundree; kundru (Hindi); kunduru (Hindi); tindori; tondikay (Kannada); tondli (Marathi).
Marshall Islands: kiuri awai.
Micronesia, Federated states of: aipikohrd (Pohnpei).
Pakistan: kanduri (Urdu); kundur (Urdu).
Peninsular Malaysia: pepasan.
Sweden: scharlakansgurka.
Tonga: kiukamapa ae initia. Aroi papasan, Baby cucumber, Bak tam nin, Ban kakri, Bat, Belipoka, Bimbika, Bolu teke, Buta, Bwlai, Chiloda, Chum bat, Covay kai, Donda, Edaldalksin, Enkaiserariai, Gol kakri, Golenda, Jangli kundru, Kandaroi, Kanduri, Kapasan, Kattukoval, Kauwa-luli, Kiukamapa 'ae 'initia, Koba, Kovai, Kundri, Kundri ja, Kundru, Lacheta, Lyungulyungu, Marr 'had, Ndegegeya, Pak tam lung, Pake, Papasan, Pepasan, Phak tam leung, Phak tam nin, Phak tamlueng, Sarap alas, Scarlet fruited gourd, Scarlet gourd, Sloek Bas, Tala kachu, Tam ling, Tam lung, Tam nin, Tam-lueng, Tandli, Telakucha, Telkocha, Tilkakri, Tindora, Tinduri, Tondli, Tongli, Tudu.
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Found In
Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available
Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Cambodia, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, East Africa, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guiana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South America, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad-Tobago, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia.
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.
This plant can be weedy or invasive. Native to East Africa and introduced to Australia, the Caribbean, southern USA and the Pacific region. An aggressive grower smothering and killing native vegetation, including mature trees.
Particularly invasive in Saipan and Guam. Known as a noxiuos weed in Hawaii, USA.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.
Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
Expert comment
Author
(L.)J.Voigt.
Botanical References
200266
Links / References
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