— creeping cucumber, Guadeloupe cucumber, drooping melonette (Melothria pendula)—edible herbaceous native vine

—Size: 6-10’+tall by 6-10’+ wide

—Site: full sun to part-shade

—USDA Hardiness Zones: 8-11, grown as an annual elsewhere

—To Propagate: Seed requires no pretreatment.

Creeping cucumber is a native edible member of the cucumber family. The immature green fruits of creeping cucumber are crisp and juicy with a tart cucumber taste. When the fruit reaches its full size, ~1” long, the fruit takes on the taste something akin to a crisp cucumber. However, when fully ripe—when the fruit turns black—the mature fruit is a very strong purgative. Only one mature fruit may produce intense diarrhea and for that reason should be avoided.

Creeping cucumber is closely related to the the edible Mexican sour gherkin (Melothria scabra) commonly offered for the vegetable garden. Like its cousin creeping cucumber is very prolific producing fruit all summer long. An herbaceous perennial in areas of light frost or light, short freezes but grown as an annual elsewhere.

A vigorous vine which will quickly and completely cover the ground or anything in its path growing around 10’ in a season making it a great vine for covering the ground or utilitarian structures such as chain link fences, or other structures which its tendrils can cling to. As shown in the pictures creeping cucumber can climb up rough-barked trees—quite shade-tolerant creeping cucumber will do well in an open-woodland setting or growing up the typical residential-setting shade tree.

Though intimidating sounding, the soft leaves and thin stems of creeping cucumber make it easy to keep in check with a simple yank. In fact, the very pleasing appearance of creeping cucumber’s soft, thin leaves makes it a great ornamental plant and can be container-grown.

Note: If you order more than one lot of one species of seeds, for example you place two orders of 100 seeds, or whatever variation is offered, we assume you want 200 seeds and your order will be sent in one seed packet.