Kartuz Greenhouses Banner
Store Front Basket Contents Checkout



Gesneriads
Begonias
Rare Flowering Plants
   Abutilon
   Acalypha
   Acnistus to Aphelandra
   Aroids
   Asclepias to Brillantaisia
   Brugmansia
   Brunfelsia to Centratherum
   Chlorophytum to Crotalaria
   Cuphea to Dyschoriste
   Ecbolium to Ficus
   Fuchsia to Gardenia
   Gingers
   Gmelina to Ilex
   Impatiens
   Iochroma
   Ipomoea to Justicia
   Kalanchoe to Manihot
   Medinilla to Pellionia
   Pentas to Plumbago
   Polygala to Russelia
   Ruttya to Solanum
   Sparmannia to Tecomaria
   Thunbergia to Tradescantia
   Tree Daisies
   Turnera to Whitfieldia
Vines and Climbers
Other Categories
Browse by Family
FAQ
Cultural Information
Recommended Links


Credit Card Logos

Gift Certificate



Crescentia alata leaves


Return to This Plant's Category:  Chlorophytum to Crotalaria

Crescentia alata

Mexican Calabash, Gourd Tree
Crescentia alata



Code: 90534

Price: $13.95


Quantity:
Quantity in Basket: None

Family: Bignoniaceae

This small curious tree has flowers and large cannonball-like fruits that occur directly on its branches and trunk (cauliflorous). The 2½ inch bell-shaped flowers are tinted yellow with a trace of purple and open for a single night and then fall the following day. In the wild, pollinating bats are attracted by the flower's musky scent. Flowering occurs from May until November. The resulting 5 inch round, hard fruits are green, turn yellow as they ripen, and eventually fall from the tree. The round dry shells from the fruit are cut into bowls and often made into musical rattles known as maracas. To produce odd shapes for birdhouses, etc., string is sometimes tied around the fruit as it grows. When the hard fruit is broken open, seeds are exposed that are edible and high in protein with a sweet licorice-like taste. With age, the young seedlings will develop normal leaves that are trifoliolate with a leaflike winged petiole shaped like a cross.

It grows to 25 feet in height, is semi-deciduous, drought tolerant, and has a spreading low canopy and open, branching growth habit. It can be used as a unique large bonsai specimen in the landscape and is well suited for patio planters and container growing. Epiphytes love to grow on its corky bark. It does need a frost free growing environment. Native to southern Mexico and Central America south to Costa Rica. USDA zones 9b - 11.

Previous Plant Next Plant


Keyed Cultural Guide: The following symbols are listed with many product descriptions. If so, they indicate special characteristics or growing requirements. Also, see "Cultural Information".
(B) Hanging
basket
(D) Dwarf
under 12"
(F) Flourescent lights for
indoor light culture
(H) Humid
conditions
(M) Miniature
under 6"
(T) Terrarium
plant
(W) Winter
flowering


Key to USDA Hardiness Zones