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Marah spp.

man-roots

Cucurbitaceae Western North America

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 7–10

Overview

Marah spp. is a genus of about seven species of perennial climbing vines in the family Cucurbitaceae, native to western North America. Each plant grows from a massive woody tuber that can weigh many pounds and reach several feet across, sending up annual stems that climb by branched tendrils to 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 m) over a single season. The palmately lobed leaves resemble those of cucumber or grape. Small white to cream flowers appear in spring, with separate male and female flowers on the same plant: the males in branched clusters and the solitary females below. Fertilized flowers develop into rounded, spiny green fruit 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm) across, containing a few large seeds, the source of the common name wild cucumber. As summer drought sets in, the top growth dies back and the plant survives underground as the tuber, regrowing with autumn and winter rains. The genus grows on slopes, in chaparral, and along streambanks. A limitation for garden use is the immense tuber and the vigorous, sprawling stems, which make plants difficult to contain or transplant.

Native Range

Marah spp. is native to western North America, from British Columbia south through California to Baja California and east into the desert mountains. Species grow in chaparral, oak woodland, coastal scrub, and along seasonal watercourses.

Suggested Uses

Marah spp. is used in native and habitat gardens, on banks, and along fences and trellises in regions with dry summers. The early growth and spiny fruit suit naturalistic and wildlife plantings in chaparral and woodland-edge settings.

How to Identify

Identify Marah spp. by its annual climbing stems rising from a large perennial tuber, its palmately lobed cucumber-like leaves, and its branched tendrils. White to cream five- to six-lobed flowers appear in spring, the males in upright clusters and the females single. The rounded, spine-covered green fruit, 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm) wide, is the most recognizable feature.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height10' - 20'

Width/Spread3' - 10'

Colors

Flower Colors

white

cream

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~10 weeks

Winter Spring

Marah spp. flowers in late winter and spring, roughly February through May, as the stems extend with seasonal rains. Male and female flowers open on the same plant over several weeks. The spiny fruit ripens by late spring before the top growth withers.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

white to cream

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 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 sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-4 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Across the genus, Marah spp. grows in full sun to part shade on well-drained slopes and tolerates the summer-dry pattern of its native range, with a soil pH of about 6.0 to 7.5. Plants are grown from seed, as the brittle tuber is difficult to move once established. Watering follows the natural cycle, with moisture in autumn and winter and dry conditions in summer when the plant is dormant. Established plants need no summer irrigation and rot in soil kept wet through the dormant season. The vigorous stems climb over shrubs and fences and can be cut back where they overrun neighbors.

Pruning

Annual stems die back on their own at the onset of summer dormancy and can be cut away once they brown. Stems can also be shortened during growth to limit spread over nearby plants. The tuber is left undisturbed, as damage to it can kill the plant.