Buffalo Gourd

With rich, orangey yellow flowers against a backdrop of bold, blue green leaves, it’s easy to separate this nifty CA native gourd from the hoards of other miscellaneous Cucurbits that frequent the veggie beds. Here, ornament trumps edibility (the fruits are edible when young, but not delicious) so the appeal is the gorgeous foliage & it’s very handsome & symmetric pattern of growth. Large & sprawling, (from 15-20’ wide & around 1-2’ tall. It’s best appreciated in a situation where it can roam a little. Dry hillsides with crummy soil? No prob. Goes deciduous after fruiting, late in Fall & dies back to a large underground tuber. The “Buffalo Gourd” is native to Southern California, with a range that extends throughout the Southwest. Plant with Daturas a drama-under-neglect duet.