Plant
American Pumpkin
Cucurbita pepoAlso known as Field Pumpkin, Summer Squash, Zucchini, Acorn Squash
First domesticated in Mesoamerica thousands of years ago, American pumpkins grow on sprawling vines clad in broad, prickly leaves and vibrant golden blossoms. Specialized native squash bees visit the short lived morning flowers, ensuring successful fruit development across diverse agricultural and wild landscapes. The resulting gourds, ranging from summer zucchinis to thick shelled jack o lanterns, play a vital ecological and agricultural role globally.
CultivatedFloweringVine
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyPhotosynthetic
Predators
- Squash Bug
- Cucumber Beetle
- Squash Vine Borer
ThreatsPowdery mildew, squash bugs, cucumber beetles, extreme drought
HabitatsAgricultural fields, gardens, disturbed fertile soils
Life span3–5 months
Classification
- OrderCucurbitales
- FamilyCucurbitaceae
- GenusCucurbita
- SpeciesCucurbita pepo
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Pollination Window: Female blossoms open at dawn and typically close by early afternoon.
- Sex Identification: Look for a tiny miniature squash beneath the petals of female flowers.
Pollinator Ilona Loser / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Herbivore (c) Even Dankowicz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Even Dankowicz · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Pablo Cauã da Silva Toledo, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Pablo Cauã da Silva Toledo · cc-by
Wild Relative (c) Adam J. Searcy, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Adam J. Searcy · cc-by
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