General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Neutral (6.6 – 7.3)
Slightly alkaline (7.4 – 7.8)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9b -3.9 °C (25 °F) to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 11
Plant Height: 2 to 4 feet
Plant Spread: 2 to 4 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Fruit: Showy
Other: Fragrant 2 to 4 inch ovoid creamy-white to yellowish with purple stripes.
Fruiting Time: Late summer or early fall
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Purple
White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Uses: Groundcover
Suitable as Annual
Edible Parts: Seeds or Nuts
Fruit
Eating Methods: Raw
Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Pollinators: Various insects
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots

Image
Common names
  • Pepino Dulce
  • Melon Pear
  • Pepino

Photo Gallery

Date: 2019-10-10
Location: West Jordan, Utah, United States
Date: 2022-03-04
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2023-09-20
Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum).
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2023-08-03
Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum).
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2023-08-05
Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum) flowers pollination success!
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2023-08-10
Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum) young fruit are developing.
Location: indoors Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2020-02-05
Purple Pepino or Melon Pear (Solanum muricatum) fruit in winter 2
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2023-08-22
Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum).
Location: indoors Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2023-11-21
Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum) fruit.
Location: Elkhorn, California
Date: 2018-09-21
KODAK Digital Still Camera
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2023-07-13
Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum) flower buds showing!
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2023-09-11
Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum).
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2023-09-30
Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum).
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2023-09-30
Pepino Dulce (Solanum muricatum).
Location: Indiana zone 5
Date: 2014-11-07

 Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: indoors Toronto, Ontario
Date: 2020-12-26
Melon Pear (Solanum muricatum) seedlings.
Uploaded by robertduval14
Uploaded by robertduval14
Comments:
  • Posted by CPedrick (Royal Oaks, California - Zone 9a) on Dec 28, 2018 12:05 PM concerning plant:
    I was able to sprout young plants from the fresh seeds relatively easily. I planted them immediately into fine soil with peat moss in it and since they are so small, I barely covered them with less than 1/8 inch of soil. Then I kept the soil moist and put them in the direct sun of a window. They came up as easily as a tomato would and in about the same time frame. The largest one, seen in the photo I am posting, is now outdoors and about two feet tall in a pot sheltered from freezing weather. I will post again when it blooms in the spring/summer.
  • Posted by gardengus (Indiana Zone 5b) on Nov 7, 2014 7:49 PM concerning plant:
    Native of the Andes in South America.
    Fruit is sweet. Tastes like a honeydew X pear X cucumber.
    Usually propagated by cuttings and does well in greenhouse cultivation.
Plant Events from our members
MrsBinWY On March 11, 2018 Seeds sown
6-pack (3 seeds per cell) on heat mat; seeds from fruit from Safeway
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