Crescentia alata (Gourd tree)

Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) light green flower close up on textured tree branch bark.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) flower with soft petals attached directly to a thick woody stem.

Botanical names: Crescentia alata, Parmentiera alata

Common names: Gourd tree, Jicaro, Morrito. Calabash Tree

Family: Bignoniaceae

Origin: Mexico, Central and South America

USDA Plant Hardiness Map

USDA Zone: 11-12

Plant type: Fruit or edible
Fruit type: Fruit or edible
Small tree 10-20 ftPlant form: Small tree
Plant mature sizeMature height: 10-20 ft
Full sunSemi-shadeSun exposure: Full sun or bright light indoor; semi-shade
Cold toleranceCold tolerance: Frost sensitive. Protect from freezing.
Watering: Moderate. Water when top soil feels dryWatering: Moderate
Unusual colorFlower color: Unusual color
Suitable forSuitable for: Outdoors in the suitable USDA zone; small gardens, containers, and indoor growing

It is a small tree growing to 8 m tall. It has hard, cannonball-like fruit 7-10 cm diameter, that are difficult to break into. The seeds are edible and high in protein with a licorice-like sweet taste. Flowering is nocturnal and occurs on the branches and trunk throughout most of the year.

Crescentia alata is similar to Crescentia cujete

except that both fruits and flowers are smaller.

See our video about Candle Tree.

Similar plants: Crescentia alata (Gourd tree)


Image gallery: 12 images
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) yellow flower on branch with green leaves close up
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) branch with yellow flowers and thick green leaves on wooden stem.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) brown flower on a tree trunk close up for detail.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) brown flower emerging from the rough surface of the trunk.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) light green flower close up captured from the side
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) light green bell-shaped flower hanging from a sturdy tree branch.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) with round green fruit hanging from the rough woody branch.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) with smooth green round fruit attached directly onto a thick branch.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) green fruit and small tubular flowers on rough textured brown branch.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) showing green fruit and small flowers attached to the thick bark.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) trunk with beige flowers and a smooth round green fruit close up.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) trunk with small beige flowers and a single round smooth green fruit.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) brown yellow flower close up on rough textured bark trunk.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) flowers emerge directly from the rough surface of the woody trunk.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) light green flower close up growing directly from textured woody trunk
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) light green flower attached to the rough surface of a woody trunk
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) green leaves and small hanging fruit on a woody plant.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) with lush green foliage and round green fruit hanging from branches.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) green leaves on a branch reaching toward the blue sky close up.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) with trifoliate green leaves arranged along a woody brown branch against sky.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) branch with light yellow flower close up and green leaves
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) branch with light yellow flower and dense cluster of green foliage
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) green leaves close up spread on a dark textured surface.
Crescentia alata (Gourd tree) branches with green trifoliate leaves resting on a dark flat surface.


Link to this plant:
https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/crescentia_alata.htm
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