Echinocystis spp.

wild cucumber

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

Overview

Echinocystis spp. is a genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae, with a single species, E. lobata, known as wild cucumber or balsam apple. It is a fast-growing annual climbing vine native to North America. From a single taproot, slender, grooved stems climb 5-8 m (16-26 ft) in one season by means of branched, coiling tendrils. The alternate, palmately lobed leaves have three to seven pointed lobes and resemble maple leaves, 5-10 cm (2-4 in) across. Plants bear separate male and female flowers on the same vine: small, star-shaped, greenish-white flowers with six narrow petals, the males in long upright sprays and the females single at the leaf axils. The fruit is an oval, inflated, soft-spined pod 3-5 cm (1.2-2 in) long that dries and splits at the base to release four dark seeds. Despite the common name, the fruit is bitter and not edible. The vine grows along streambanks, fence rows, thickets, and moist disturbed ground, and can smother low vegetation in a single season. In gardens it is grown as a quick annual screen on fences and trellises.

Native Range

Native to North America, widespread across southern Canada and much of the United States, and naturalised in parts of Europe. It grows along streambanks, in moist thickets, on fence rows, and in disturbed bottomland.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a fast annual screen on fences, trellises, and arbors, and to cover plain structures within a season. Used in informal and wildlife plantings near water, where the flowers support pollinators.

How to Identify

Identified by an annual climbing habit with branched coiling tendrils, maple-like palmately lobed leaves, and sprays of small star-shaped greenish-white flowers. The oval, inflated, soft-spined fruit 3-5 cm (1.2-2 in) long is characteristic and dries to release four large dark seeds. The bitter, inedible fruit separates it from true cucumbers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height16' - 26'

Width/Spread3' - 7'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~8 weeks

Summer Fall

Small star-shaped greenish-white flowers open from midsummer into early autumn, the males in upright sprays and the females single in the leaf axils. The flowers carry nectar and draw bees and other insects. Inflated spiny fruits develop through late summer and ripen in autumn.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 5-9 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam silt sand

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade in moist, fertile soil, and favours damp ground near water. As an annual it is raised each year from seed sown in spring after frost, or it self-sows from fallen seed. Steady moisture supports rapid growth, and plants flag in dry soil. A tall, sturdy support is needed for the vigorous stems. The vine dies with the first hard frost and is cleared away at the end of the season.

Pruning

Stems are thinned or shortened during the season to keep the vigorous growth within bounds. Spent vines are pulled and removed after frost. Removing developing fruit before seeds ripen limits self-sowing.