Cucurbita foetidissima
Buffalo gourd, calabazilla, Calabazilla
Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Cucurbitaceae · Type: Vine · Native
Cucurbita foetidissima (Buffalo gourd) is a native California vine in the Cucurbitaceae family, recognized by leaf size, odor, and flower size.
Buffalo gourd is a California native perennial found in the Great Valley, Central Western, Southwestern, and Desert bioregions in sandy and gravelly places at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from June to August, this plant produces large, striking yellow flowers measuring 9 to 12 centimeters across. Growing with coarsely rough stems and long branched tendrils, it spreads vigorously across open ground. Its large triangular-ovate leaves are gray-green, approximately 15 to 30 centimeters wide, with finely toothed edges and a heart-shaped or truncate base. The fruit is a distinctive spherical gourd about 7 to 8 centimeters wide, green with coarse white stripes.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species; leaf size, odor, and flower size are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Sandy, gravelly places
Elevation: < 1300 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, Calaveras, Riverside, San Diego, Merced, Fresno, Orange, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Butte, Stanislaus, Madera, Alameda, Tulare, Sonoma, Monterey
Outside California: to Nebraska, Missouri, Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Cucurbita foetidissima blooms Jun-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Cucumis: Cucurbita has flowers with fused tube over 3cm long; Cucumis flowers are shallower with shorter tubes.; vs Datura: Cucurbita has yellow-orange trumpet flowers and vines; Datura has white-purple trumpets and upright growth.; vs Citrullus: Cucurbita emerges from large tuber-like roots; Citrullus is annual from seed without tuber.; vs Marah: Cucurbita has large yellow trumpet flowers; Marah has small white star-shaped flowers.; vs Agnorhiza: Cucurbita has trumpet-shaped flowers; Agnorhiza has daisy-like composite flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cucurbita foetidissima native to California?
Yes. Cucurbita foetidissima is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Cucurbita foetidissima bloom?
Cucurbita foetidissima blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Cucurbita foetidissima grow?
Cucurbita foetidissima occurs in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Kern, Ventura, Calaveras, Riverside, San Diego, Merced and other counties, at elevations of < 1300 m.
What plant family does Cucurbita foetidissima belong to?
Cucurbita foetidissima is in the Cucurbitaceae family, genus Cucurbita.
What habitat does Cucurbita foetidissima grow in?
Cucurbita foetidissima grows in Sandy, gravelly places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.