Ozark Wild Gourd

𝐶𝑢𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑏𝑖𝑡𝑎 𝑝𝑒𝑝𝑜 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑝. 𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑎 𝑣𝑎𝑟. 𝑜𝑧𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑎𝑛𝑎

Ozark wild gourd is a native gourd species found along waterways throughout the Missouri and Arkansas Ozarks. Ozark wild gourd is considered the wild ancestor of many of the common squash and gourd species we grow in our gardens today. Plants are similar to cultivated varieties and produce long vines with numerous small hard-shelled gourds. The white fruits are very bitter and not edible. However, numerous pollinators utilize the flowers and other wildlife browse the foliage. In the wild these plants will trail along the ground or climb on other vegetation.

Grow them in open fields or on trellises. The dried gourds have historically been used as rattles, painted for decoration and small ones have been used as false eggs to coax hens to lay in nesting boxes.

Consider growing Ozark wild gourd in your garden this year for a touch of the Ozarks!