Caudex

Caudex Care

Ibervillea lindheimeri

What is the plant

The Balsam Gourd is a beautiful, easy-to-grow plant with edible flowers and fruit. It is an excellent choice for gardeners looking for something different to add to their landscape. With its sweet fragrance and distinct flavor, the Balsam Gourd will make an exciting addition to any landscape.

Balsam Gourd (Ibervillea lindheimeri), also known as Lindheimer's Globeberry and Caudex, is a fruit-bearing plant native to Texas and Mexico. The plant belongs to the cucumber family and is well-known for its green and yellow flowers.

To identify Globe Berry, look for a climbing vine with tendrils and large, palmately lobed leaves. The plant produces small, yellow flowers with distinctive yellow stamens, followed by small, edible fruit. The fruit is green when it forms and becomes yellow or red when it ripens.

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Lighting

Full Sun

Temperature

15°C - 25°C

Hardiness zone

9a - 10b

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Despite being drought-tolerant, Balsam Gourd benefits from regular watering. Give the plant a deep drink when the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil feels dry to the touch. Avoid waterlogging the ground, as it can lead to root rot.
Pruning
Occasional pruning can help to control the size and shape of your Globe Berry. Trim it off in winter or early spring when the plant is not actively growing. Also, pruning the vine after it has finished blooming will promote new flowering stems.
Fertilizer
It's not necessary to fertilize this plant, as the Balsam Gourd does well even in nutrient-poor soil. If the plant grows in low-fertile soil, and you want to boost it, nourish Lindheimer's Globeberry once in spring with a balanced NPK 15-15-15 fertilizer.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
As a sun-loving plant, Balsam Gourd grows best in full sun locations. It can also tolerate some shade but needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to encourage healthy growth and abundant flowering.
Soil
Well-draining, sandy potting mix would benefit this plant the most. Lindheimer's Globeberry grows best in a moderately alkaline growing medium (7.0 to 8.5 pH); however, this fruit-bearing vine can survive in a broader range of acidity. Make sure to put drainage at the bottom of the pot, as this plant is susceptible to root rot caused by waterlogging.
Propagation
Balsam Gourd is easy to spread by sowing seeds ot stem cutting. Going with the first method, plant Globe Berry's seeds in moist, well-draining soil in spring and rinse it regularly until new growth appears in 2-4 weeks. Opting for the second method, cut a healthy 4-inch (10 cm) long mature stem and remove the lower leaves. Put the cutting in a pot with a moist substrate and rinse it regularly until the branch roots in several weeks.

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Temperature
As a heat-loving plant, the Globeberry feels best in the 65-75 °F (18-24 °C) temperature range. Make sure to keep the plant away from draughts and severe temperature fluctuations.
Container
As Globeberry is a vine, it needs a large enough container to accommodate the roots and a trellis that supports the plant. Opt for a pot with draining holes that is at least 1ft (30 cm) deep and wide.
Fun fact
Balsam Gourds are well known for their potent, spicy aroma, which works wonders as a natural insect repellent. The plant's common name derives from its balsam-like smell.