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Momordica balsamina
Also called Balsam Apple, African Cucumber, Balsam Peer, Bursting Beauty
Southern balsampear is a climbing tendril vine grown as an annual, known for bright orange, warty fruits that burst open to show scarlet seeds. It needs warm weather, a sunny spot, and a trellis or support to climb.
Momordica balsamina, known by the common name balsam apple, is a species of tendril-bearing annual vine native to tropical regions of Africa, as well as introduced and invasive in parts of Asia, Australia, Central America, and North America. In 1810, Thomas Jefferson planted this vine in his flower borders at his Virginia home of Monticello, along with larkspur, poppies, and nutmeg.
Some botanical texts indicate that the outer rind and the seeds of the fruit are poisonous, though the Tsonga people of southern Africa are known to eat the leaves and fruit of the plant; in West Africa, it is a popular anti-malaria remedy. The balsam apple was introduced into Europe by 1568 and was used medicinally to treat wounds. "Oleum Momordicae" was understood in pharmacy as tree oil poured onto the fruits of Momordica balsamina. The fruit and leaves are used as a soap substitute. The plant sap can be used medicinally or as a metal cleaner, and it is also processed into an arrow poison.
Balsampear · Gac · Balsampear · Balsam Apple
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Momordica balsamina by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
