Ecballium

( eck - BALL - ee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly known as the Squirting Cucumber or Touch-Me-Not plant, plants in this genus are famous for their ripe fruits squirting out liquid containing seeds as a means of dispersal. The single species in the genus is native to Europe, northern Africa, and temperate regions in Asia. It is commonly grown as both an ornamental plant and (less widely) as a crop plant, though due to the toxicity of fruits, it is not often consumed. Take care when planting these in the landscape, as they are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Ecballium Species and Varietals

The genus Ecballium is a member of the plant family Cucurbitaceae, and includes just one species. The species name is derived from the Greek word ekballo, meaning 'to expel, throw, or cast out', referring to the unique way the species disseminates its seeds. Ecballium plants grow well in USDA zones 8-11. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Ecballium elaterium (Squirting Cucumber, Exploding Cucumber)
These plants form herbaceous, vining plant that dies back to the ground each year, re-sprouting from a somewhat unpleasant-looking stump. Female flowers produce bristly fruits, becoming green-yellow with maturity. When they are ready to disperse seeds, they drop from their attachments and squirt out seed-laced liquid. Can be weedy and invasive in some environments. Although these plants are technically considered edible medicinal plants, they are used as a purgative and have quite violent effects on the human body.

Caring for Ecballium

Take care when planting these in the landscape, as they are toxic to humans and pets if ingested. Plant Ecballium plants in full sun. They will produce more flowers (and subsequent fruits) the more sun they get; between 6-8 hours of direct sun each day is ideal. Space plants between 3 and 3.5 feet apart for best coverage and airflow. Squirting Cucumber plants prefer soil that is well-draining and nutrient rich to support the growing season's flowering and fruit development. If soil is particularly poor or clay heavy, make sure to amend the planting site with plenty of organic material (or grow these plants in containers). After installation, make sure to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Water at the base of plants to prevent wetting the leaves, which can lead to mildew or fungal issues. The best time to water is early in the morning, which will allow extra moisture to evaporate once the sun comes up. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, increase soil moisture retention and regulate soil temperatures.

Amending soil with plenty of organic matter and/or compost should be sufficient to support the flowering and fruiting for the season. Make sure to not over-fertilize plants with nitrogen, as this will encourage more foliage growth at the expense of flowering and fruiting. Ecballium plants are also sensitive to high salt content in soil caused by over-fertilization. These plants do not need to be pruned, but doing so can help to increase airflow and improve the health of the plant. Those grown on trellises can have their base foliage trimmed off (the first three or four nodes up the plant). This will keep new growth from laying on the ground where it will attract diseases and pest insects. Remove dead, damaged, dying, or pest-infested foliage. When pruning, make a few cuts, and then stand back and examine the plant as a whole to avoid over-pruning and damaging the plant. Ecballium plants are perennials, able to survive in the landscape for over a decade if given proper care. In temperate zones, these plants will die back to the ground over the cooler months of the year.

Propagation

Ecballium plants can be propagated either by using cuttings or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Exploding Cucumber plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Ecballium by Cutting

Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. A good substrate for propagation of cuttings is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
In spring or early summertime, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new plant.

Propagating Ecballium by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. Ecballium seeds are typically brown to black, contained inside of the fruits produced by plants. They are typically expelled violently when fruits explode, but fruits can also be harvested and sliced open. Rinse seeds after removing them from their fruit; lay the seeds out in a single layer to dry. Once dried, they are able to be stored in an airtight container for up to five years.
Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about an inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 10-21 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home (if seeds were not direct sown).