Pumpkin Tree

Have you ever heard of pumpkin tree? I had not until I was in the floral department at Kroger and they had this very interesting stems that looked like a tree branch with small pumpkins growing on it. It was so interesting and I had never seen anything like it before. I did not initially buy it but kept thinking about it and went back and bought a few stems of pumpkin tree.

What I have learned about Pumpkin Tree is that it is also called Pumpkin Bush and Pumpkin on a Stick. Pumpkin tree can grow from 3 to 5 feet and produces a small ribbed fruit, about the size of a miniature pumpkin called Jack B. Little. When the fruit first appears it is deep green As it ripens it turns to a deep reddish orange. As it dries the fruit appears more orange in color.

The scientific name for Pumpkin Tree is Solanum. It is officially a member of the Eggplant family. The plant is called "Hmong Eggplant" in Asia and is used for cooking. The pumpkin fruits start as a star shaped white flower that once pollinated begin producing the small pumpkin shaped fruit.. Pumpkin Tree is called "Turkish Orange" in the MIddle East.

I am just fascinated by very interesting looking plant. As an avid gardener for the past 20 years it is not very often that I see something int the floral department that I have never seen before.

Update: So far I have had it in water for 3 weeks and the pumpkin tree stems still look just as good as they did when I brought them home from the store. I change the water ever 3 or 4 days and will post a final update on how long they lasted once they are done.

Update 10/18: It is now one month and the pumpkin tree still looks just as fresh as it did when I put them in water one month ago.

Update 10/25 I have now had the pumpkin tree in water for 5 weeks. The fruits are starting to soften and I am sure they will be done later this week. But right now they still look good.

Update 10;/30. I have now had the pumpkin tree in water for nearly 6 weeks. It still looks fine but I felt the pumpkin fruits and they are starting to soften so I imagine they will be done in a few days or so. Still this is an amazing amount of time for any floral item to last in water.

Update 11/1 I discovered that my husband had thrown out the pumpkin tree. I really think it would have lasted til the end of the week. Well I got 6 full weeks out of it which is way longer than most other floral stems. I was really amazed by how long the pumpkin tree branches lasted in the vase . I really miss that pumpkin tree and need to see if I can get some more.



I am really looking forward to getting some more pumpkin tree this fall!