The Hedgehog Cucumber is a plant best grown for novelty or ornamental value though they are technically edible as well. Plants tend to grow as relatively short scrambling vines with semi-lobed, spade or oval-shaped leaves, the entirety of which along with the stems covered in small spiny hairs (use gloves when handling). Bright yellow male and female flowers eventually give way to 2-3 inch long, oval-shaped fruits that are hilariously covered in semi-soft bristly spine-like hairs. They start out green before usually turning yellow on full maturity, and like other cucumbers have a spongy interior and slime-coated seeds. Shoots and leaves can be rubbed free of their bristles and cooked as a vegetable, and the fruits are supposedly also edible particularly when young...but also recommended to be cooked or at least paired with milk or other neutral foods as they pack a wickedly bitter punch otherwise. Seeds can also be roasted. If just left alone, they are quite amusing little adornments that look like a hedgehog mashed with a green football.
Packets contain approx. 20 seeds each.