Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is African Kedrostis (Kedrostis africana)cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called African Kedrostis, Baboon's Cucumber.

More about african kedrostis

About African Kedrostis

Kedrostis africana · also called African Kedrostis, Baboon's Cucumber · houseplant

A dramatic South African caudiciform (Cucurbitaceae) producing a woody underground caudex up to 50 cm across from which annual twining vines emerge each season. Grow in full light with some protection from harsh afternoon sun, water moderately in summer and keep nearly dry in winter. Excellent for hanging baskets or a trellis.

Cold limit: USDA 10–12 · RHS H1c (10–30°C)

Watch for — Root and caudex rot: The most common failure, caused by overwatering or poor drainage especially during winter dormancy. Ensure the medium dries fully between waterings in winter and use a very free-draining mix.

What african kedrostis's hardiness rating actually means

African Kedrostis is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Its RHS rating of H1c means: Warm-temperate — can summer outdoors but must come in well before the first frost. On the US scale that maps to USDA 10–12 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 5 °C (and never frost). African Kedrostis has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

Concretely, for african kedrostis as it gets too cold:

Below about about 5 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches.
A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover.
Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.

Can african kedrostis go outside or overwinter — and where?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 5 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually.
Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C.
It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when african kedrostis can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H1c figure above.

African Kedrostis hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is african kedrostis cold hardy?

African Kedrostis is not cold hardy. It is a tropical houseplant that dies if it is left out through frost — there is no zone where it overwinters outdoors in a UK or cold-US climate. Indoor-only in almost every home. African Kedrostis can only live outside year-round in genuinely frost-free climates (roughly USDA 10–12); everywhere else it is a houseplant that summers out at most.

What is the minimum temperature african kedrostis can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly about 5 °C (and never frost). African Kedrostis has no frost tolerance at all — it is an indoor plant in any climate with a real winter.

What hardiness zone is african kedrostis?

African Kedrostis is rated USDA 10–12 and RHS H1c — Warm-temperate — can summer outdoors but must come in well before the first frost.

Can african kedrostis survive winter outside?

It can holiday outdoors in summer once nights are reliably above 5 °C, in shade or dappled light, hardened off gradually. Bring it back indoors well before the first autumn frost — do not wait for a frost warning, move it when nights drop toward 10-12 °C. It will never overwinter outside in a temperate climate; the indoors is its winter home, full stop.

What happens to african kedrostis below its minimum temperature?

Below about about 5 °C, growth stalls and the leaves start to show cold stress — dark, water-soaked, or yellowing patches. A single light frost blackens the foliage; a hard freeze kills the whole plant, roots included, and it does not recover. Even a cold, draughty windowsill or an unheated porch in winter can be enough to damage it permanently.