Fig-leaf gourd

Cucurbita ficifolia

annual7.5×4.5 mzone 9–11light shade

Will it grow where I live?

Fig-leaf gourd is grown as an annual in temperate climates: sow or plant out after the last frost, harvest until the first autumn frost.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family: Cucurbitaceae
Habit: annual
Height: 7.5 m
Spread: 4.5 m
Growth: medium
Lifespan: 1 year
First yield: after 1 year
Hardiness: zone 9–11
Shade tolerance: light shade
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture: semi-dry – very moist
pH: 6 – 7.5

Flowering & harvest

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Flowering

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible5 of 10

Medicinal3 of 10

Other uses1 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Fig-leaf gourd: how big does it get?

Fig-leaf gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia) grows as a annual and reaches roughly 7.5 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 4.5 m. Growth is medium.

Fig-leaf gourd: what site does it need?

Fig-leaf gourd tolerates light shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 6 and 7.5.

Fig-leaf gourd: is it hardy?

Fig-leaf gourd is listed as hardy in zone 9–11 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Fig-leaf gourd: will it grow in Central Europe?

Fig-leaf gourd is grown as an annual in temperate climates: sow or plant out after the last frost, harvest until the first autumn frost.

Fig-leaf gourd: when does it flower?

In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers from July to August.

Fig-leaf gourd: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Fig-leaf gourd. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Fig-leaf gourd: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 5/10, Medicinal 3/10, Other uses 1/10.

Community experience

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