| Scientific Name: | Citrullus lanatus |
| Common Name: | watermelon |
| Family Name: | Cucurbitaceae |
| Origin: | Africa - southern |
| Hardiness Zone: | Zone 7: (-18 to -12 °C) |
| Plant Type: | Annual (true) |
| Mature Size: | 0.2 - 0.4m x 2 - 3m (height x width) |
| Habit: | Spreading |
| Form: | Creeping / Mat-like |
| Texture: | Very coarse |
| Landscape Uses: | Medicinal plant, Urban agriculture |
| Exposure: | Full sun |
| Soil or Media: | Well-drained |
| Leaves: | Simple, Lobed, Alternate, Prickly, Pubescent, Ovate, Dentate, Palmately lobed |
| Flowers: | Flowers solitary, Yellow, Jul-Aug |
| Fruit: | Pepo, Aug |
| Key ID Features: | |
| Vine-like scrambler; stems thin, angular, hairy, grooved, with branched tendrils; leaves alternate, deeply lobed and/ or toothed, ovate, 7-20cm long x 5-15cm wide, pubescent, base cordate; flowers funnelform, 3-8cm wide, yellow, male flowers with 3 stamens, female flowers on same plant with and inferior ovary and a coral like stigma; fruit with smooth exterior rind (often green with dark green stripes) and juicy interior flesh, very sweet and usually red (>100 cvs. and some have orange and yellow flesh). | |