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Lagenaria siceraria

Phonetic Spelling
lag-en-AR-ee-uh sy-ker-AR-ee-uh
Description

Bottle gourd (aka calabash) is an annual, vining member of the squash family that is widely cultivated for its interestingly shaped fruits; the genus name derives from the Greek word, lagenos, for "vase." When dry, the fruits can be used as containers, pipes, rattles, and many other uses. The large white flowers open at night and fruit set is enhanced by hand pollination. Seeds, leaves, flowers, and young stems are all edible. Direct seed outdoors after the danger of frost has passed; fruit should not be harvested until the skin has hardened.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Potential insect problems include aphids, cucumber beetles, squash bugs, stink bugs, cutworms, pickleworm and squash vine borers. Potential disease problems include anthracnose, fusarium wilt, bacterial wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew and blights.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#white flowers#edible fruits#edible garden#annual vegetable#vine#annual#sun#frequent insect problems#frequent disease problems
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#white flowers#edible fruits#edible garden#annual vegetable#vine#annual#sun#frequent insect problems#frequent disease problems
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lagenaria
    Species:
    siceraria
    Family:
    Cucurbitaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Western Tropical Africa to Ethiopia and Tanzania
    Climbing Method:
    Twining
    Edibility:
    Seeds, leaves, flowers, and young stems are all edible
    Dimensions:
    Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Vine
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is fleshy and dry but not split open.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Flowers are generally white or yellow and there are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower. The petals or the sepals are fused into a cup or tube.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Serrate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    The alternate leaves are simple, lobed but not separated into leaflets, there is one leaf per node along the stem. The leaf edge is serrated and lobed.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Theme:
    Edible Garden
    Problems:
    Frequent Disease Problems
    Frequent Insect Problems