30 Types of Watermelon: A-to-Z (+Photos)

Watermelons are a summertime favorite, especially when it is hot outside. These juicy and refreshing fruits come in many different colors and sizes.

Native to Africa, watermelon cultivars are grown worldwide in nearly all temperate climates, providing a popular fruit to produce for many cultures.

Golden hour with four watermelons on picnic table.

Watermelon, scientifically known as Citrullus lanatus, is a flowering plant species in the Cucurbitaceae family, including mango, pumpkins, and squash.

⬇️ Table of Contents

Icebox Watermelon

As the name suggests, icebox watermelons are small enough to fit in a refrigerator's "icebox."

These mini watermelons come with deep red, sweet flesh with black seeds and typically weigh between 5 to 12 pounds, making them easy to store and transport. Icebox watermelons have thin, light green skin and an oblong shape, perfect for slicing and serving.

Seedless Watermelon

Seedless watermelon varieties, as the name implies, have virtually no seeds or small white ones that are either edible or very easy to remove.

Seedless varieties are convenient for people who prefer not to deal with seeds. Most are hybrids, resulting from crossing pollen from male pollen cells with female flowers of plants that produce the magic of no seeds.

Picnic Watermelon

Watermelons that fall into the "picnic" category are typically much larger, averaging between 15-50 pounds with a thick, dark green rind.

Picnic watermelons are great for larger gatherings, and their thick rinds make them easy to transport. Most varieties of picnic watermelon have black seeds and bright red or pink flesh within.

In this post, we will take a closer look at the various types of watermelons available in the market.

A-to-Z

Big Tasty Hybrid Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Big Tasty'

Appearance and Taste: As the name suggests, the Big Tasty hybrid is known for its large size and deliciously sweet, deep red flesh throughout. The rind is a handsome dark green with lighter green stripes.

Region: This hybrid variety is adaptable and can be grown in a variety of climates.

Unique Points of Interest: The Big Tasty is appreciated for its flavor and impressive size, often reaching up to 25 pounds. Despite its size, it matures relatively quickly, usually in about 80 days.

Black Diamond Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Black Diamond'

Appearance and Taste: This watermelon variety has a dark green, nearly black rind, hence the name. Its flesh is a classic bright red, offering a sweet, juicy flavor.

Region: Black Diamond watermelons thrive in warmer climates.

Unique Points of Interest: Known for their large size, Black Diamond watermelons can reach up to 50 pounds. They're a favorite among growers for their high yield and classic watermelon flavor.

Black Diamond Belly Watermelon

photo courtesy FGN

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Black Diamond Yellow Belly'

Appearance and Taste: This variety has dark green skin, a distinctive yellow spot on the underside, and a thin rind. The flesh is a bright, juicy red with a high sugar content.

Region: They are versatile and can be grown in various climates.

Unique Points of Interest: Named for its unique coloration, this type of watermelon is a favorite for its very sweet watermelon and high yield of large fruits.

Blacktail Mountain Watermelon

photo courtesy Annapolis Seeds

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Blacktail Mountain'

Appearance and Taste: The Blacktail Mountain watermelon features dark green skin and bright red, sweet flesh. It's known for its round shape and can weigh up to 15 pounds.

Region: Originating in Northern Idaho, this variety is adaptable and can grow watermelons even in cooler climates, making it a popular choice for northern gardeners.

Unique Points of Interest: This picnic watermelon variety was developed by a 17-year-old boy in 1977. It matures early (in about 70 days), much quicker than many other watermelon varieties.

Borries Yellow Watermelon

photo courtesy Seed Savers

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Borries Yellow'

Appearance and Taste: Borries Yellow watermelons are known for their bright, golden-yellow flesh. They have light green skin and thick rind and offer a deliciously sweet flavor.

Region: This open-pollinated variety is adaptable to different climates and regions.

Unique Points of Interest: The vibrant yellow flesh is visually striking and delivers a unique flavor profile, offering a refreshing change from the traditional red-fleshed varieties of watermelon.

Cal Sweet Bush Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Cal Sweet Bush'

Appearance and Taste: This variety has a dark green rind with lighter stripes and bright red, sweet flesh. It's a smaller variety, suitable for personal consumption.

Region: Cal Sweet Bush watermelons are adaptable and can be grown in a variety of climates.

Unique Points of Interest: This variety is known for its compact vine, making it a great choice for smaller gardens or containers. Despite the smaller vine, it still produces sizeable fruits that typically weigh about six between 10-12 pounds.

Carolina Cross #183 Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Carolina Cross #183'

Appearance and Taste: Carolina Cross watermelons are known for their enormous size, light green rind with dark and light green stripes, and a deep red, incredibly sweet flesh.

Region: This variety is adaptable and can be grown in various climates.

Unique Points of Interest: The Carolina Cross #183 is famous for its record-setting size, producing a fruit weighing over 350 pounds. It's a favorite among growers aiming for the prize in size competitions.

Charleston Gray Watermelon

photo courtesy Bonnie Plants

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Charleston Gray

Appearance and Taste: This picnic watermelon features a long shape and a distinctive, light gray-green color rind. Its sweet, bright red flesh is known for being particularly juicy and flavorful.

Region: The Charleston Gray is versatile and can be grown in various regions, although it thrives in warmer climates. It was first developed in Charleston, South Carolina, hence the name.

Unique Points of Interest: This variety is popular among gardeners due to its resistance to disease and its high yield of large fruits, which can weigh up to 30 pounds.

Chris Cross Watermelon

photo courtesy R.H Shumwa

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Chris Cross'

Appearance and Taste: The Chris Cross watermelon has an attractive dark green, mottled skin and bright, crisp red flesh. It is known for its sweet and refreshing flavor.

Region: Chris Cross is a versatile variety that can be grown in various climates.

Unique Points of Interest: This variety of picnic watermelon is high-yielding, producing large, seeded watermelons. It is also resistant to anthracnose and fusarium wilt, two common watermelon diseases.

Cream of Saskatchewan Watermelon

photo courtesy Croatian Seeds Store

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Cream of Saskatchewan'

Appearance and Taste: This unique picnic watermelons variety has very light green skin, striped rind, and creamy white flesh. Its flavor is sweet and refreshing, contrary to what you might expect from its unusual color.

Region: The Cream of Saskatchewan watermelon is hardy and can be grown in various climates, including cooler regions.

Unique Points of Interest: This heirloom variety is known for its small to medium-sized fruits that weigh between 8 to 10 pounds. Its unique reddish-pink flesh color makes it a novelty and conversation starter in any garden.

Crimson Sweet Watermelon

photo courtesy HomeTown Seeds

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Crimson Sweet'

Appearance and Taste: Crimson Sweet seeded watermelon is round to oblong in shape with a dark green skin striped in lighter green. The flesh is red, very sweet, and contains few seeds.

Region: This variety is heat-tolerant and can be grown in many regions. It's especially popular in the United States.

Unique Points of Interest: Crimson Sweet is known for its high sugar content (up to 12%), making it one of the sweetest varieties of watermelon. It's also resistant to several common watermelon diseases.

Florida Giant Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Florida Giant'

Appearance and Taste: Florida Giant watermelons are known for their massive size and delicious flavor. They have a thick, light green rind with dark and light green stripes and bright red, sweet, and juicy flesh.

Region: As the name implies, Florida Giant watermelons thrive in warm climates similar to Florida's.

Unique Points of Interest: This variety can produce fruits weighing up to 50 pounds or more, making it a popular choice for growers after impressively large watermelons.

Georgia Rattlesnake Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Georgia Rattlesnake'

Appearance and Taste: The Georgia Rattlesnake watermelon is characterized by its dark green rind with jagged, light green stripes, mimicking the appearance of a rattlesnake. The fruit boasts sweet, crisp, and juicy red flesh, often punctuated with dark seeds. This variety usually grows large, often oblong or elongated.

Region: Though it can adapt to a wide range of climates, the Georgia Rattlesnake watermelon flourishes best in hot, sunny conditions and is particularly suited to the southern United States.

Unique Points of Interest: The Georgia Rattlesnake, an heirloom variety, is famous for its large size, often weighing up to 30-40 pounds. Despite its daunting name and size, it's praised for its high sugar content and excellent flavor. It's also appreciated for its drought resistance and robust yield, making it a popular choice for both commercial and home gardeners.

Golden Midget Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Golden Midget'

Appearance and Taste: This unique watermelon variety has a striking orange crisp golden-yellow rind when ripe. The flesh is pink to red and offers a sweet, refreshing taste.

Region: Golden Midget watermelons can be grown in various climates.

Unique Points of Interest: This variety is known for its small size (around 3 pounds) and the distinctive golden color of the rind when ripe, making it easy to know when to harvest.

King of Hearts Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'King of Hearts'

Appearance and Taste: The King of Hearts watermelon features black seeds and a dark green rind with lighter green stripes. The flesh is bright red, exceptionally sweet, and seedless variety.

Region: This variety is adaptable and can be grown in various climates, although it thrives in warmer growing seasons.

Unique Points of Interest: The King of Hearts is known for its very sweet, bright red flesh. This seedless watermelon variety is an early producer, often ready for harvest before many other varieties. Despite being seedless, the fruits can reach a significant size, often weighing up to 25 pounds. This variety's combination of size, sweetness, and seedless convenience make it a king among watermelons.

Little Darling Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Little Darling'

Appearance and Taste: This is a small-sized watermelon with a round shape, dark green skin, and bright red flesh. Despite its size, it packs a punch in terms of sweetness.

Region: The Little Darling watermelon is adaptable and can be grown in various climates.

Unique Points of Interest: This variety is perfect for smaller households or for those who prefer a personal-sized watermelon. It matures early and is known for its disease resistance.

Millionaire Watermelon

photo courtesy Harris Seeds

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Millionaire'

Appearance and Taste: The Millionaire watermelon features a deep green rind with lighter stripes. It has sweet, red flesh and typically grows round to slightly oblong.

Region: This variety is adaptable to many climates but prefers a warm growing season.

Unique Points of Interest: The Millionaire is a hybrid seedless watermelon known for its disease resistance and high yield. The fruits mature early, making it a good choice for regions with shorter growing seasons.

Mini Love Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Mini Love'

Appearance and Taste: Mini Love is a small-sized, heart-shaped watermelon with a green striped rind and bright red, sweet flesh.

Region: Mini Love watermelons can be grown in a wide range of climates but prefer a warm growing season.

Unique Points of Interest: These watermelons are loved not only for their unique fruit shape but also for their high yield and disease resistance. Despite their small size, they offer a deliciously sweet and juicy flavor.

Moon and Stars Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Moon and Stars

Appearance and Taste: This variety has a dark green rind speckled with yellow spots, resembling a night sky, hence the name. The flesh is pink to red and has a sweet, flavorful taste.

Region: Moon and Stars watermelons can be grown in various climates but prefer a warm growing season.

Unique Points of Interest: The unique appearance of this heirloom variety makes it a favorite among gardeners. The yellow spots vary in size, with one larger "moon" and several smaller "stars."

Mountain Sweet Yellow Watermelon

photo courtesy Seed Needs

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Mountain Sweet Yellow

Appearance and Taste: This variety stands out with dense red flesh on its yellow and white flesh side, which offers a sweet, honey-like flavor. The rind is dark green, and the shape is typically oblong.

Region: Mountain Sweet Yellow watermelons are versatile and can be grown in various climates.

Unique Points of Interest: The sweet yellow and orange flesh of this variety makes it a unique and attractive choice. It's also known for its large size, with fruits often weighing up to 35 pounds.

Oh So Sweet Watermelon

photo courtesy K & A Greenhouse

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Oh So Sweet'

Appearance and Taste: This seedless type of watermelon features a uniform round shape and a striped, dark green skin and thin rind. The flesh is bright red, exceptionally sweet, and quite juicy.

Region: The Oh So Sweet watermelon is adaptable to different climates, although it prefers warm growing conditions.

Unique Points of Interest: As its name implies, the sweetness of this variety is a standout feature. It's also known for its large size, with fruits produced weighing 20-25 pounds.

Orangeglo Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Orangeglo'

Appearance and Taste: The Orangeglo watermelon features dark green skin and a light green rind with dark green stripes throughout. The firm flesh part is a vibrant orange, offering a sweet and tropical flavor.

Region: This variety can be grown in various climates but prefers warmer growing seasons.

Unique Points of Interest: The Orangeglo is an heirloom variety known for its strikingly bright yellow or orange flesh. The fruits are large, typically weighing between 20-30 pounds. Despite its size, it matures relatively quickly, usually within 90-100 days.

Piccolo Hybrid Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Piccolo'

Appearance and Taste: The Piccolo Hybrid watermelon features a dark green, striped rind with bright, crisp, sweet red flesh. The taste is traditional and sweet, perfect for a summer picnic.

Region: This hybrid variety can be grown in various climates but prefers a warm growing season.

Unique Points of Interest: The Piccolo Hybrid is very sweet among watermelon varieties, loved for its small size and high yield. The fruits typically weigh 6-8 pounds, making them perfect for small households or anyone who prefers a personal-sized watermelon.

Red Ruby Hybrid Watermelon

photo courtesy Burpee

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Red Ruby'

Appearance and Taste: The Red Ruby Hybrid is known for its round shape, light green rind with dark and light green stripes throughout, and bright red, a sweet flavor, and crisp flesh.

Region: This hybrid variety is adaptable and can be grown in various climates.

Unique Points of Interest: As a hybrid variety, the Red Ruby is known for its uniformity, high yield, and disease resistance.

Small Shining Light Watermelon

photo courtesy The Ai Food Artist

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Small Shining Light'

Appearance and Taste: This variety produces small, round fruits with dark green rinds. The flesh of tender fruit is bright pink and offers a sweet and refreshing taste.

Region: Originating in Russia, Small Shining Light watermelons are cold-tolerant and can be grown in cooler climates where other watermelons may struggle.

Unique Points of Interest: Aside from its cold tolerance, this variety is also popular for its small size, making it a good choice for personal-sized watermelons or for smaller gardens.

Sugar Baby Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Sugar Baby'

Appearance and Taste: Sugar Babys are icebox watermelons with small, round fruits with a dark green rind. They typically weigh between 6 to 10 pounds. The flesh of seeded watermelons is dark red, sweet, and fine-textured.

Region: These picnic watermelons are quite versatile and can be grown in most regions, including cooler climates.

Unique Points of Interest: Sugar Baby watermelons are known for their compact size, which makes them perfect for small gardens. Despite their size, they still pack in plenty of sweetness.

Triple Sweet Watermelon

Scientific Name: Citrullus lanatus 'Triple Sweet'

Appearance and Taste: This variety produces large, oblong fruits with an attractive green-striped rind. They are seedless types of melons with flesh that are bright red and known for its exceptionally sweet, robust flavor.

Region: The Triple Sweet watermelon thrives in warmer climates.

Unique Points of Interest: As the name suggests, this watermelon variety is praised for its intense sweetness. It also yields large fruits, often weighing between 25-30 pounds.