Luffa cylindrica (Loofah)
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) yellow flower open on dense green vine leaves near stone concrete surface.
Botanical name: Luffa cylindrica
Common names: Loofah, Dishcloth Gourd, Vegetable Sponge Gourd
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Origin: Southern Asia , India
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
USDA Zone: 9-10
Plant type: Fruit or edible
Fruit type: Fruit or edible
Plant form: Climbing or creeping vine
Sun exposure: Full sun or bright light indoor
Cold tolerance: Frost sensitive. Protect from freezing.
Watering: Regular
Flower color: Yellow, orange
Suitable for: Outdoors in the suitable USDA zone; small gardens, containers, and indoor growingVery fast growing vine to 10-15ft. Vines may be ground dwelling, but grow best when give upward support. Care is similar to other gourds and melons. Water frequently, grow in full sun. If growing for sponges, allow the fruits to turn from green to yellow on the vine. Fruits will lose quite a bit of moisture and become light.
Luffa cylindrica is very similar to Luffa acutangula.
Fruits can be eaten, but the vine is most commonly grown for the fibrous interior of the fruits, which when dried, can be used as a sponge.
Propagation: By seed.
Similar plants: Luffa cylindrica (Loofah)
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) fruit with beige dried fiber and scattered small black seeds on surface.
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) vine spreading green lobed leaves over a textured light colored stone wall
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) yellow flower with pointed green buds growing on a leafy vine stem.
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) vine with large green leaves hanging over a textured stone wall surface.
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) flower with yellow petals surrounded by large green leaves on thin stems.
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) flower with wrinkled yellow petals and a textured center on green leaves.
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) vine covered in yellow flower petals amid lush wide green foliage segments
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) leaves with lobed edges held by a hand to demonstrate relative size.
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) yellow flower close up, revealing the intricate textures within its wide petals.
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) yellow flower open with crinkled petals positioned near deep green foliage.
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) vine with a single elongated green fruit and a yellow flower
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) yellow flower with ruffled petals and surrounding dark green foliage in detail
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) green fruit hanging from vines entangled on a metal wire fence structure
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) yellow flower with ruffled edges sits near deep green foliage in summer sunlight
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) yellow flower with wide petals, nestled among large, textured green foliage leaves.
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) dried white fruit with numerous flat seeds on a table
Luffa cylindrica (Loofah) held in a hand showing the texture of the immature young green fruit
Link to this plant:
https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/luffa_cylindrica.htm