Ecballium elaterium

RHS Plant Profile
squirting cucumber

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squirting cucumber RHS
squirting cucumber RHS
Herbaceous Perennial Annual Biennial
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A tender, bushy or trailing perennial grown as an annual. Dark greyish-green, five-lobed leaves are carried on long, bristly stems. Pale yellow flowers, about 2cm across, appear in summer, followed by hairy, blue-green fruit that are touch-sensitive, squirting out seeds over large distances when ripe

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Cucurbitaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Trailing
Potentially harmful
IRRITANT to skin/eyeharmful if eaten. Pets (dogs, cats): IRRITANT to skin/eyeharmful if eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus
Ecballium are trailing or bushy, bristly perennials which produce touch-sensitive fruit that can squirt seeds out over great distances when ripe. They have lobed leaves and funnel-shaped flowers
Name Status
Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Start seeds off under glass, planting out into an open, sunny position with well-drained soil after all risk of frost has passed

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Cottage and informal garden

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Aphids and glasshouse red spider mite may be a problem under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free