Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo 'Ambrosia')

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cantaloupes
Featured
Resistances
Powdery Mildew
Sun Requirements
Full Sun
Uses
Vegetable
Wildlife Attractant
Bees
Bloom Size
Under 1"
Flower Color
Yellow
Fruit
Edible to birds
Plant Habit
Vine
Propagation: Seeds
Self fertile, Sow in situ
Detailed Information

While *Cucumis melo* (the species to which all cantaloupes, muskmelons, and honeydew melons belong) originated in **Africa or Asia**, the specific cultivar ‘Ambrosia’ cantaloupe was developed in the **United States**.

Here’s a breakdown:

* **Cucumis melo (Species origin):** Generally believed to be either Africa (possibly near Ethiopia or Somalia) or Central Asia (Iran, the Caucasus region, and surrounding areas). It then spread and diversified across the Middle East, Asia, and eventually the rest of the world.
* **’Ambrosia’ Cantaloupe (Cultivar origin):** The ‘Ambrosia’ cantaloupe is a modern cultivar bred and selected for specific traits like flavor, disease resistance, and shipping quality. It was most likely developed in the **United States** (likely in California or Arizona, prominent cantaloupe-growing states) by agricultural breeders.

Therefore, while the *ancestral* origin is Africa or Asia, the ‘Ambrosia’ cantaloupe as we know it today is a product of American agriculture.