Gourd Cucurbita
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Gourd:
- Phonetic Spelling
- koo-KER-bih-ta
- Description
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A large genus of plants native to North and South America. It includes some cultivated vegetables such as summer and winter squash, pumpkins, and ornamental gourds.
VIDEO* Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
*in the video the male and female flowers are swapped. The female flower is presented first, the male flower second.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- C. argyrosperma, C. ficifolia, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. pepo
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- C. argyrosperma, C. ficifolia, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. pepo
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cucurbita
- Family:
- Cucurbitaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North and South America
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Vegetable
- Vine
- Habit/Form:
- Climbing
- Creeping
- Appendage:
- Tendrils
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Orange
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- A type of berry called a pepo that has a hard rind. Fruits may be long or round, large or small, smooth or warty. Some species and cultivars are edible and some are not; among the edible ones, both fruit and seeds are edible.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Large yellow or white flowers with five petals. Most often monoecious, though some species are diecious.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Palmatifid
- Peltate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large, alternate leaves, sometimes reaching a foot in diameter. Palmate lobing and veining.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Vertical Spaces
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
