Type: Annual vine (gourd)
Sun / water: Dappled light; it does not like full sun or full shade / water as needed; does not like to be waterlogged
When I plant it: A loofa is an annual and dies back in late fall as the nights get too cold for it.
What I’ve seen
Tropical, not cold tolerant.
How I use it
This is a gourd that, when fully “ripe,” can be used as a body scrub. When unripe, it can be eaten, though I have not tried it personally. Collect the seeds from the harvested loofah and save them to start next year. Note: to start seeds successfully, soak them first.
This profile shares what I have experienced growing this plant in my Central Florida garden. I am not a certified horticulturist, so results in your garden may differ.