Fingerleaf Gourd
Cucurbita digitata
Family: Cucurbitaceae
This striking, warm-season growing plant is often found scrambling along the ground and makes a great ground cover as well as a vine. Plants are deciduous and reemerge in spring from a large woody taproot. Nectar-rich flowers are followed by green gourds that dry to brown. This species is quite similar in appearance to its close relative, the coyote gourd Cucurbita palmata, but the lobes of its leaves are usually more slender. C. palmata should be avoided growing in our region as they readily hybridize and that can cause problems for wild plants that have evolved to handle their respective ecolgies.
Plant in full sun. Hardy to at least the single digits °F.
Photo of Cucurbita digitata by Liz Makings, SEINET
Cucurbita digitata on iNaturalist
Many animals consume the fruits. The flowers are pollinated by bees and other nectar-seeking insects.
The fruits are terrible tasting but the seeds can be roasted and eaten.
There are 19 species of Cucurbita worldwide, 3 species in Arizona. Cucurbita is the Latin name for gourd, digitata means lobed like fingers.
Found in sandy alluvial soil of washes and valleys or on dry plains and mesas in southern California, southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, southwestern Texas; south into northern Mexico.
Plants are vines, though often sprawling across the ground, photo by Ana Gatica Colima, iNaturalist
Dormant plant with persisting, dried fruits, photo by Ben Raymond, iNaturalist
Coyote Gourd (Cucurbita palmata) is a more western Arizona species with wider digits on the foliage. We don't recommend planting it because it can hybridize with our native ones. Photo by feetontheground on iNaturalist