Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 2931290

Pepino

Solanum muricatum

Also known as Pepino Melon, Melon Pear, Pepino Dulce, Sweet Cucumber

Pepino is a delicate, evergreen shrub in the nightshade family native to the temperate Andean valleys of South America. It produces distinctively striped, egg-shaped fruits alongside star-shaped purple and white blossoms reminiscent of potato flowers. Widely cultivated across high-altitude tropical and subtropical regions, it relies on insect pollinators and vegetative propagation to thrive in frost-free climates.

Fruit-BearingEvergreenNightshade
Pepino reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Carlos Vieira, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Spider Mites
  • Aphids
  • Whiteflies
ThreatsHabitat fragmentation, agricultural pests, frost exposure
HabitatsMontane valleys, agricultural fields, tropical highlands, coastal scrub
Life span5–10 years
Classification
  1. FamilySolanaceae
  2. SpeciesSolanum muricatum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Ripe fruit is edible, but the foliage is toxic to dogs and cats if ingested; wild nightshades also have toxic look-alikes.
Responsible observation
  • Identifying fruit maturity: Watch for skin color to shift from green to creamy yellow with purple streaks.
  • Pest monitoring: Check undersides of leaves regularly for sap-sucking insects in warm weather.
  • Optimal placement: Position plants in full sun with well-drained soil sheltered from wind.
Related species
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