Figleaf Gourd is an annual, vining, squash in the cucumber family and native to South America where it is grown for its edible fruits with black seeds. The leaves and stems are also edible. It is a vigorous plant with a tendency to climb. The mature fruit, rounded and resembling a watermelon, can be stored for 2 years or more and becomes sweeter over time. The leaves resemble fig leaves as referenced in the Latin species name and the common name. Figleaf Gourd can grow in poor soil (clay or sandy), in full sun or partial shade. It does prefer moist to wet soil conditions, but is not cold tolerant. Click here to see a calendar of planting schedules, time-to-harvest, and recommended spacing. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens. More information on Cucurbita .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Creeping; Spreading
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Peltate; Reniform
Leaf margin
Lobed
Leaf feel
Velvety
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, > 6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Large alternate leaves with palmate lobing and venation. In shape, similar to fig leaves.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Edible; Showy
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Funnel; Star
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Early to mid-summer bright yellow flowers last into early fall. Monecious, with separate male and female flowers on the same plant.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Green; Variegated; White
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Edible; Long-lasting
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, > 3 inches wide
Fruit detail
A pepo (berry with a hard rind) that is mottled white and green. The inner flesh is white with black seeds. Known for its incredible storage qualities and for the uniform size and color.
Stem color
Green
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Peru to Bolivia
Distribution
Mexico, Central America, California, Spain.
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
Fruit can be cooked or made into jam.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The shell of the mature fruit is very hard and it can be used as a container.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Vertical Spaces
Landscape theme
Edible Garden
Design feature
Mass Planting; Small groups
Garden tags
#non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #edible fruits #edible #annual vegetable #vine #spreading #climber #poor soil tolerant #fast growing #th-taste #th-touch #th-sowing #th-wildlife
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables; Pests of Cucurbits
Disease problems
Cucurbit Downy Mildew; Gummy Stem Blight of Cucurbits; Anthracnose of Cucurbits