Understanding the Different Classifications: What Is Watermelon Considered to be?

December 7, 2025 •

3 min read

With a high water content of around 92%, watermelon is renowned as a summer thirst-quencher. Yet, its classification often sparks debate, with many people asking: what is watermelon considered to be? The answer depends entirely on whether you're speaking from a botanical, culinary, or agricultural standpoint.

Quick Summary

Watermelon's classification is complex and depends on perspective: botanically, it is a fruit and a type of berry called a pepo, while in the culinary world, it is typically treated as a fruit, though its cultivation and savory uses can suggest a vegetable.

Key Points

Botanically a Fruit: Watermelon is a fruit because it develops from the flower's ovary and contains seeds, meeting the scientific definition.
Technically a Berry: More specifically, botanists classify the watermelon as a pepo, a specialized type of berry with a thick, hard rind.
Culinary Fruit vs. Vegetable: While its sweet flavor and common use in desserts lead to its culinary classification as a fruit, the watermelon's rind is used as a vegetable in savory dishes in some cuisines.
Agriculturally a Vegetable: Its cultivation methods, similar to other gourds like squash and pumpkins, lead farmers and agricultural experts to often treat it as a vegetable.
Multiple Edible Parts: The sweet flesh is the most popular part, but the seeds are a protein-rich snack and the rind can be pickled or cooked.
A Relative of Cucumbers and Squash: Watermelon is a member of the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family, which includes many other items commonly referred to as vegetables.

The Botanical Classification: A Fruit and a Berry

From a strict botanical perspective, watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is definitively a fruit. The botanical definition of a fruit is the ripened, seed-bearing ovary of a flowering plant. Since the watermelon develops from the female flower of the watermelon plant and contains seeds, it fits this criterion perfectly.

The Pepo: A Special Kind of Berry

To get even more specific, botanists classify the watermelon as a special type of berry called a pepo. A pepo is a fleshy, multi-seeded fruit with a hard rind that is characteristic of the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family. This puts watermelon in the same botanical category as other familiar gourds like cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins. The development from an inferior ovary is another key feature of a pepo. This botanical classification holds true regardless of the fruit's sweetness or its culinary application.

The Culinary and Agricultural Classifications: A Vegetable

While botanists have a clear answer, the culinary and agricultural worlds have their own logical reasons for classifying the watermelon differently.

Culinary Classification

In the kitchen, produce is categorized by taste and usage, not reproductive biology. Since watermelon is sweet, juicy, and often used in desserts, fruit salads, and refreshing drinks, it is overwhelmingly treated and regarded as a fruit. However, in some global cuisines, the watermelon rind is pickled, stir-fried, or stewed, demonstrating a more savory, vegetable-like use.

Agricultural Classification

Agriculturally, watermelons are often grown using farming methods similar to other garden vegetables, such as cucumbers and squash. They are planted, cultivated, and harvested in the same system as vegetable crops. This practical consideration leads many in the farming and produce industry to categorize it as a vegetable. The state of Oklahoma even went so far as to declare the watermelon its official state vegetable in 2007, solidifying this agricultural viewpoint in public perception.

Comparison of Watermelon Classifications


Feature	Botanical Perspective	Culinary Perspective	Agricultural Perspective
Core Definition	Ripened, seed-bearing ovary of a flowering plant. Specifically a pepo, a type of berry with a hard rind.	Based on taste (sweet vs. savory) and common usage.	Based on cultivation and harvesting practices.
Classification	Fruit and Pepo (a type of berry).	Fruit (due to sweetness). Can also be used as a vegetable (rind).	Vegetable (grown in vegetable production systems).
Key Evidence	Develops from a flower and contains seeds.	Sweet, juicy flesh is typically used in desserts and sweet dishes.	Part of the Cucurbitaceae (gourd) family, grown like other vine vegetables.
Real-world Example	A botanist would call a cucumber a fruit for the same reason.	A chef primarily uses the sweet flesh for fruity dishes.	Farmers harvest watermelons with other annual vegetable crops.

The Edible Parts of Watermelon

Beyond the juicy red or pink flesh, watermelon has other edible components that showcase its versatility. The entire watermelon is edible, which contributes to a zero-food-waste approach to cooking.

Seeds: Packed with protein, magnesium, and other nutrients, watermelon seeds can be sprouted, shelled, dried, and roasted for a nutritious snack. In some cultures, they are a popular food item.
Rind: The often-discarded outer rind can be pickled, stir-fried, or stewed. This is a traditional preparation method in many parts of the world, including China and the southern United States. Pickled watermelon rind has a crisp, savory flavor.
Juice: The refreshing juice is a common way to consume watermelon, either on its own or blended into other beverages.

Conclusion: A Matter of Perspective

Ultimately, there is no single, simple answer to the question, what is watermelon considered to be. It is a perfect example of how different fields of study and human application lead to varying classifications. Botanically, it is undoubtedly a fruit and a type of berry called a pepo, developed from a flower's ovary. Culinarily, its sweetness places it firmly in the fruit category for most people, but its savory uses and growing practices also give it vegetable status. So, the next time you enjoy a slice, you can appreciate its multifaceted identity. It is all about the lens through which you choose to view this delicious and hydrating summer treat.

For further reading on the nuanced distinctions between botanical and culinary definitions of produce, you can explore academic resources such as the article “Watermelon: A Brief History” available from the University of Missouri.

Frequently Asked Questions

Watermelon is both a fruit and a vegetable, depending on the context. Botanically, it is a fruit. Culinarily and agriculturally, it is often treated as a vegetable due to its growing methods and savory uses of its rind.

A pepo is a botanical term for a type of berry with a hard, thick rind. Watermelon is a pepo because it fits this description and is part of the gourd family, which is known for this fruit type.

Watermelon is sometimes called a vegetable because it is grown and harvested using similar agricultural techniques as other vegetable crops like squash and pumpkins. Additionally, its rind is used in savory cooking in some cultures.

Yes, 100% of a watermelon is edible. This includes the fleshy interior, the seeds, and the rind, which can be prepared in various ways, such as pickling or cooking.

Watermelon belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family, also known as the gourd family. Other members of this family include cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins.

The difference depends on the definition used. Botanically, fruits are developed from the ovary of a plant's flower and contain seeds, while vegetables are other edible parts of the plant. Culinarily, fruits are typically sweet, and vegetables are savory.

Watermelon is a berry in the technical, botanical sense, but it is not the same as a strawberry or blueberry. Botanically, strawberries are aggregate fruits, and watermelons are a specific type of berry called a pepo, defined by its hard rind.