Use App
Home City Plants Application
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Svenska
Polskie
ภาษาไทย
Bahasa Melayu
Bahasa Indonesia
This page looks better in the app
about about
About
plant_info plant_info
More Info
weed weed
Weed Control
distribution_map distribution_map
Distribution
topic topic
Care FAQ
more_plants more_plants
Related Plants
articles articles
Related Articles
pic top
Buffalo gourd
Buffalo gourd
Buffalo gourd
Buffalo gourd
Buffalo gourd
Buffalo gourd
Add to My Garden
Buffalo gourd
Cucurbita foetidissima
Also known as: Calabazilla, Coyote gourd, Prairie gourd, Stink gourd
Buffalo gourd (*Cucurbita foetidissima*) is a perennial plant that grows best in semiarid regions and deserts. It produces oil and may someday be commercially leveraged for biofuel production. The pumpkin portion of the gourd contains many carbohydrates.
Hardiness Zones
9 to 11
Hardiness Zones
Planting Time
Spring, Summer
Planting Time
plant_info

More Info

Flower Color
Flower Color
Yellow
Bloom Time
Bloom Time
Summer
Leaf Color
Leaf Color
Green
Gray

Symbolism

Protection

Usages

Garden Use
While not commonly cultivated, buffalo gourd is occasionally grown in vegetable and some flower gardens. It is used to provide garden interest in the spring and summer. The long, trailing vine produces large, bright-colored flowers in the spring that form uniquely shaped summer fruits. The fruits have a foul odor, but their interesting appearance makes them popular as ornamental gourds.

Scientific Classification

icon
Find your perfect green friends.
Plan your green oasis based on your criteria: plant type, pet safety, skill level, sites, and more.
weed

Weed Control

Weeds
Buffalo gourd is native to North America and Mexico. This plant roots in dry soils throughout USDA zones 9 to 11, and it often sprouts in plains and deserts. While buffalo gourd has not been deemed an invasive species, it may be an unwanted resident in many gardens throughout its native range. Its fruit emits a foul smell that many find off-putting; furthermore, the mature fruit is poisonous to humans and should not be consumed. If necessary, buffalo gourd can be cut and treated with chemical herbicide to discourage growth. Proper disposal should be done to ensure that the seeds do not proliferate.
How to Control it
Once weeds are flowering and firm, it is difficult to effectively control them, so the best time for weeds to be removed is before flowering and firming; once flowering and firming, the seeds will spread very quickly and need to be removed frequently, and prevention should be made in the next year. Pull out: Before weeds are strong, wear gloves or use tools to dig out weeds. If the soil is difficult to remove due to drought, it can be used to thoroughly remove the roots of weeds after being irrigated with water. After removal, it can be used in conjunction with deep cultivation to prevent weed roots from remaining. This method is particularly suitable for weeds at the seedling stage or with a relatively low size. Pruning: Pruning before weeds can effectively control the spread of weeds, especially for annual weeds. Frequent pruning can suppress the growth and fruiting of weeds, which can effectively remove weeds that year. Tilling: Tilling the soil before cultivation, picking up and discarding the perennial weed roots, discarding, exposing or burying deeply, it can also be used to make organic fertilizer and compost with weeds. Chemical control: The weeds can be effectively removed by competing herbicides. Note: When removing weeds, you need to wear gloves to avoid direct contact between the body and the weeds, especially for some toxic, thorny, sensitive mucous weeds. When cleaning weeds during flowering, you need to wear a special mask to prevent allergies caused by inhaling pollen.
weed
icon
Do you have weeds in your garden?
Differentiate them from your plants by a picture, and learn how to control them.
distribution

Distribution Map

Habitat

Hills, sandsage prairies, grasslands, mesquite scrub, pinyon-juniper, floodplain woods, vacant lots, roadsides, railroad banks
distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
habit
question

Questions About Buffalo gourd

Watering Watering Watering
Sunlight Sunlight Sunlight
Temperature Temperature Temperature
What is the best way to water my Buffalo gourd?
Not only does the Buffalo gourd have certain preferences regarding how much water it receives, but it also cares deeply about how you provide that water. In fact, if you don't use the proper watering technique, you risk harming your tomatoes. The best way to water Buffalo gourd is to apply the water directly to the soil in a slow and gentle manner. You should not pour all of the water into the soil at once, and you should not do overhead watering for your Buffalo gourd. Although you should water slowly, you should also water deeply to ensure that all of the soil in which your Buffalo gourd grows is sufficiently moist.
Read More more
What should I do if I water my Buffalo gourd too much or too little?
If you find that you have overwatered your Buffalo gourd and you are concerned about the associated risk of disease, you should intervene immediately. Often the best approach for an overwatered Buffalo gourd is to uproot it from its current growing location. Once the plant is out of the ground, you can allow its roots to dry a bit before planting it in a new growing location. Ensure that the new growing location has soil with good drainage. If you grow in pots, you may also want to move your plant to a pot with more or larger drainage holes. In the case of underwatering, all you will need to do is increase the frequency with which you supply water to your plant.
Read More more
How often should I water my Buffalo gourd?
Overall, Buffalo gourd requires a significant amount of water throughout the growing season. To meet that high water need, you'll need to water early and often throughout the spring and summer. During the earlier parts of the growing season, you should water your Buffalo gourd about once or twice per week. As the season progresses, you should increase your watering frequency. You may need to water it twice per day or more during summer, depending on the weather. After your Buffalo gourd have gone through their major seasonal growth phases, you can reduce the frequency of your watering to about once per week until the end of the growing season.
Read More more
How much water does my Buffalo gourd need?
Since Buffalo gourd are incredibly popular, with many professional and amateur gardeners growing them successfully, we have a pretty clear idea of how to care for these plants. That understanding includes specific knowledge about the precise volume of water an average Buffalo gourd should receive. Generally, Buffalo gourd will require about 1 - 1.5 inches of water per week. That volume should be dispersed evenly through your weekly watering. As the weather gets warmer, you may need to supply more water, but in most cases, two inches per week is a good baseline amount.
Read More more
How can I tell if i'm watering my Buffalo gourd enough?
Underwatering and overwatering can both occur as problems for your Buffalo gourd, and both these problems can manifest with similar symptoms. For example, foliage discoloration and wilting can both result from either overwatering or underwatering. When your Buffalo gourd is underwatered, its leaves will be curling and drooping at the beginning. You will see a bunch of leaves turn less vigorous. Underwatering is also likely to cause stunted growth and poor overall development as both the flowers and this plant require a high amount of water. Overwatering is more likely to lead to disease, including rot. Overwatering may also lead to unpleasant smells rising from your plant's soil. The symptoms of underwatering will show up quicker than overwatering. Overwatering can also be evident in soil conditions. Mainly, if you notice a lot of standing water or waterlogged soils, overwatering is likely to occur.
Read More more
How should I water my Buffalo gourd through the seasons?
As alluded to above, your Buffalo gourd's water needs will repeatedly change throughout the seasons. During most of spring and summer, you should water your Buffalo gourd about once every week. As the heat of summer arrives, you should plan to increase your watering frequency to once or twice per day. In the late summer and fall, towards the end of the harvest period, you can reduce your watering frequency to about once per week. After harvest has ended, you can cease watering as your Buffalo gourd has reached the end of its life cycle and will require no further soil moisture.
The maintenance schedule of Buffalo gourd will require you to alter the amount of water you provide depending on the plant's current growth stage. Early on, especially if you grow your Buffalo gourd from seeds, you'll need to provide water often enough to maintain consistent soil moisture, which encourages root development. When the plant becomes old enough to produce flowers, it will likely need even more water. During the fruit development growth stage, your Buffalo gourd will likely need the most water out of any growth period, at times requiring water more than twice per day. Following that phase, the water needs of Buffalo gourd will decline significantly.
Read More more
What's the difference between watering Buffalo gourd indoors and outdoors?
Whether you grow Buffalo gourd indoors or outdoors can also play a role in how you water them. Buffalo gourd that grows outdoors may receive water from natural rainfall, which will reduce the amount of supplemental water you should supply. However, it is incredibly rare for rainfall to adequately replace your watering entirely. Plants that grow indoors, along with any Buffalo gourd that grows in a container, will need to be watered more frequently than those that grow in the ground outdoors. If you choose this route, please make sure that the plant gets enough water by checking the soil moisture within your pot often to keep your Buffalo gourd healthy.
Read More more
right
icon
Get tips and tricks for your plants.
Keep your plants happy and healthy with our guide to watering, lighting, feeding and more.
close
other_plant

Related Plants

Field mustard
Field mustard
Field mustard (Brassica rapa) is a plant that is widely cultivated and produces oilseed. Canola oil is made from the field mustard oilseed. Field mustard attracts white butterflies who gain nutrients from its flowers.
Common blue wood-aster
Common blue wood-aster
Common blue wood-aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) is a herbaceous (non-woody stems) flowering perennial that grows up to 91 cm tall. Its flowers are violet, blue, purple, lavender, and sometimes white with yellow centers. Common blue wood-aster is native to central and eastern North America. This plant is also called the "Heart Leaf Aster" and the "Broad-leaf Aster."
Centipede tongavine
Centipede tongavine
Centipede tongavine (Epipremnum pinnatum) is a plant species native to the Philippines. Centipede tongavine is also called the dragon-tail plant . This species is often planted for ornamental purposes and cultivated in planters. This species is called tibatib in the Philippines. It has become naturalized in the West Indies.
Thorny olive
Thorny olive
Thorny olive (Elaeagnus pungens) is a flowering shrub native to Asia. Thorny olive is also commonly called silverthorn. In the United States, thorny olive is planted ornamentally in landscaping in the southeastern region. Thorny olive grows in variable temperate conditions, and it attracts birds.
Creeping jenny
Creeping jenny
The Latin name Lysimachia nummularia means "like a coin", giving the additional common names of herb twopence or twopenny grass. The creeping jenny works well as a groundcover and can be used in a bog garden.
Spanish cherry
Spanish cherry
The spanish cherry (Mimusops elengi) is a robust tree native to mountainous regions. Its wood is incredibly tough and can withstand whatever weather gets thrown its way! Many other parts of the trees are useful for practical applications, such as the seeds being used to make beads, and the flowers for stuffing pillows.
View More Plants
close
product icon
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400,000+ plants and unlimited guides at your fingertips...
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify, grow, and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
product icon
Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
ad
Botanist in your pocket
Scan the QR code with your phone camera to download the app
About
More Info
Weed Control
Distribution
Care FAQ
Related Plants
Related Articles
Buffalo gourd
Buffalo gourd
Buffalo gourd
Buffalo gourd
Buffalo gourd
Buffalo gourd
Add to My Garden
Buffalo gourd
Cucurbita foetidissima
Also known as: Calabazilla, Coyote gourd, Prairie gourd, Stink gourd
Buffalo gourd (*Cucurbita foetidissima*) is a perennial plant that grows best in semiarid regions and deserts. It produces oil and may someday be commercially leveraged for biofuel production. The pumpkin portion of the gourd contains many carbohydrates.
Hardiness Zones
9 to 11
Hardiness Zones
Planting Time
Spring, Summer
Planting Time
plant_info

More Info

Flower Color
Flower Color
Yellow
Bloom Time
Bloom Time
Summer
Leaf Color
Leaf Color
Green
Gray

Symbolism

Protection

Usages

Garden Use
While not commonly cultivated, buffalo gourd is occasionally grown in vegetable and some flower gardens. It is used to provide garden interest in the spring and summer. The long, trailing vine produces large, bright-colored flowers in the spring that form uniquely shaped summer fruits. The fruits have a foul odor, but their interesting appearance makes them popular as ornamental gourds.

Scientific Classification

icon
Find your perfect green friends.
Plan your green oasis based on your criteria: plant type, pet safety, skill level, sites, and more.
Download the App
weed

Weed Control

weed
Weeds
Buffalo gourd is native to North America and Mexico. This plant roots in dry soils throughout USDA zones 9 to 11, and it often sprouts in plains and deserts. While buffalo gourd has not been deemed an invasive species, it may be an unwanted resident in many gardens throughout its native range. Its fruit emits a foul smell that many find off-putting; furthermore, the mature fruit is poisonous to humans and should not be consumed. If necessary, buffalo gourd can be cut and treated with chemical herbicide to discourage growth. Proper disposal should be done to ensure that the seeds do not proliferate.
How to Control it
Once weeds are flowering and firm, it is difficult to effectively control them, so the best time for weeds to be removed is before flowering and firming; once flowering and firming, the seeds will spread very quickly and need to be removed frequently, and prevention should be made in the next year. Pull out: Before weeds are strong, wear gloves or use tools to dig out weeds. If the soil is difficult to remove due to drought, it can be used to thoroughly remove the roots of weeds after being irrigated with water. After removal, it can be used in conjunction with deep cultivation to prevent weed roots from remaining. This method is particularly suitable for weeds at the seedling stage or with a relatively low size. Pruning: Pruning before weeds can effectively control the spread of weeds, especially for annual weeds. Frequent pruning can suppress the growth and fruiting of weeds, which can effectively remove weeds that year. Tilling: Tilling the soil before cultivation, picking up and discarding the perennial weed roots, discarding, exposing or burying deeply, it can also be used to make organic fertilizer and compost with weeds. Chemical control: The weeds can be effectively removed by competing herbicides. Note: When removing weeds, you need to wear gloves to avoid direct contact between the body and the weeds, especially for some toxic, thorny, sensitive mucous weeds. When cleaning weeds during flowering, you need to wear a special mask to prevent allergies caused by inhaling pollen.
Show More more
icon
Do you have weeds in your garden?
Differentiate them from your plants by a picture, and learn how to control them.
Download the App
distribution

Distribution Map

Habitat

Hills, sandsage prairies, grasslands, mesquite scrub, pinyon-juniper, floodplain woods, vacant lots, roadsides, railroad banks

Map

distribution map
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
question

Questions About Buffalo gourd

Watering Watering Watering
Sunlight Sunlight Sunlight
Temperature Temperature Temperature
What is the best way to water my Buffalo gourd?
more
What should I do if I water my Buffalo gourd too much or too little?
more
How often should I water my Buffalo gourd?
more
How much water does my Buffalo gourd need?
more
How can I tell if i'm watering my Buffalo gourd enough?
more
Show More more
icon
Get tips and tricks for your plants.
Keep your plants happy and healthy with our guide to watering, lighting, feeding and more.
Download the App
close
product icon close
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify, grow, and nurture the better way!
product icon
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
product icon
Nearly 5 years of research
product icon
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
ad
product icon close
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400,000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
Cookie Management Tool
In addition to managing cookies through your browser or device, you can change your cookie settings below.
Necessary Cookies
Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.
Analytical Cookies
Analytical cookies help us to improve our application/website by collecting and reporting information on its usage.
Cookie Name Source Purpose Lifespan
_ga Google Analytics These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Please note that the data processing is essentially carried out by Google LLC and Google may use your data collected by the cookies for own purposes, e.g. profiling and will combine it with other data such as your Google Account. For more information about how Google processes your data and Google’s approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here. 1 Year
_pta PictureThis Analytics We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our site, monitor site performance, and improve our site performance, our services, and your experience. 1 Year
Cookie Name
_ga
Source
Google Analytics
Purpose
These cookies are set because of our use of Google Analytics. They are used to collect information about your use of our application/website. The cookies collect specific information, such as your IP address, data related to your device and other information about your use of the application/website. Please note that the data processing is essentially carried out by Google LLC and Google may use your data collected by the cookies for own purposes, e.g. profiling and will combine it with other data such as your Google Account. For more information about how Google processes your data and Google’s approach to privacy as well as implemented safeguards for your data, please see here.
Lifespan
1 Year

Cookie Name
_pta
Source
PictureThis Analytics
Purpose
We use these cookies to collect information about how you use our site, monitor site performance, and improve our site performance, our services, and your experience.
Lifespan
1 Year
Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies are used by advertising companies to serve ads that are relevant to your interests.
Cookie Name Source Purpose Lifespan
_fbp Facebook Pixel A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Learn more here. 1 Year
_adj Adjust This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Learn more here. 1 Year
Cookie Name
_fbp
Source
Facebook Pixel
Purpose
A conversion pixel tracking that we use for retargeting campaigns. Learn more here.
Lifespan
1 Year

Cookie Name
_adj
Source
Adjust
Purpose
This cookie provides mobile analytics and attribution services that enable us to measure and analyze the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, certain events and actions within the Application. Learn more here.
Lifespan
1 Year
This page looks better in the app
Open