Overview
Sicyos is a genus of annual climbing vines in the gourd family, with roughly 75 species centered in the Americas and on Pacific islands. The widespread Sicyos angulatus produces angular, hairy stems that climb by branched tendrils to 15-25 feet (4.5-7.6 m) in a season. Leaves are alternate, rounded with three to five shallow lobes, 3-8 inches (8-20 cm) wide, with toothed margins and a rough, hairy surface. Plants are monoecious, bearing separate male and female flowers; the small greenish-white blooms, 0.2-0.5 inch (5-12 mm) across, appear in summer, the males in long-stalked clusters and the females in tight heads. Female flowers develop into clusters of small, dry, spiny burs 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) long, each holding a single seed. As an annual, the plant grows, flowers, fruits, and dies within one season. Rapid growth lets the vines smother shrubs and small trees, and the species behaves as a weed in moist, disturbed ground.
Native Range
Most Sicyos species are native to North, Central, and South America, with a group of species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. S. angulatus is native to eastern and central North America, where it grows along riverbanks, fence rows, woodland edges, and other moist, disturbed sites. Several species have naturalized as weeds in Europe and Asia.Suggested Uses
Rarely cultivated, Sicyos is grown occasionally on fences, trellises, and arbors for quick seasonal screening. The aggressive growth and spiny burs leave it unsuited to small or planted areas, and it is more often managed as a weed of crops and riverbanks. Hawaiian species are grown in native plant conservation programs.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height15' - 25'
Width/Spread3' - 6'
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in summer, mainly July through September, after the vines have made substantial growth. Male and female flowers open on the same plant over several weeks. Burs ripen from late summer into fall, and the vines die at the first hard frost.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Sicyos grows in full sun to part shade on moist, fertile soils with steady water, and growth slows in dry conditions. As an annual, it is raised from seed sown after the soil warms, germinating in one to two weeks. The vines climb quickly and can overwhelm nearby plants within a season. Cucumber beetles and powdery mildew, common in the gourd family, may affect the foliage. Plants self-sow heavily where burs are left to ripen.Pruning
Vines can be cut back during the season to limit spread onto other plants. Removing the spiny burs before they ripen reduces self-sowing the following year. Frost kills the plant, and dead vines are cleared in fall.Toxicity
Non-toxicPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Plant Spacing
24 inches
