About
A vigorous, annual climber to around 9m in height with attractive tropical, heart-shaped green foliage. The gourds can also be made into attractive bird houses when dried - just drill an access hole and a couple of drainage holes in them. Best when grown up a wall or trellis to avoid the fruits becoming flattened on the ground. Long, green bottle-shaped gourds appear in summer and autumn and are used for ornamental purposes only.
About the genus
Lagenaria is a genus of plants encompassing species that may be herbaceous, shrubby, or woody. They are grown for their ornamental flowers, foliage, or fruit, and vary in hardiness and cultural requirements
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial, Climber Wall Shrub, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitClimbing
FoliageDeciduous
Height8-12 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Sub-tropical
ToxicityHumans/Pets: TOXIC if eaten, fruit intended for decoration only. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationGrow in rich, fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Start indoors from mid-late April, sowing in individual pots with seeds on their side about 1.5cm deep. Harden off before June then transplant outdoors to final growing position. Provide support such as a trellis or fence as the fruit may become flat on one side if left on the ground . See squash cultivation for further advice
PruningRemove dead or damaged leaves and thin crowded vines. To encourage more fruit production, you can prune the main vine which will encourage lateral growth for fruit
PropagationPropagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs, snails, aphids and glasshouse whitefly
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews, downy mildews and cucumber mosaic virus