Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
South America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Cucurbita maxima
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
205
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Moist Soils
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
-99995-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
9-7
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
500.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Gold
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Orange
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water in the early morning hours
Average Water Needs, Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic
Soil Type
Loam
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune after flowering
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Beetles, Bugs
Birds
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Nasal Congestion, Swelling, Swelling in the face
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin and hair, Skin cleanser, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anemia, Antibacterial, anti-cancer, cholesterol-lowering, Fertility, High blood pressure, Immunity, Liver problems, Prevention of convulsion, Regulates Blood Sugar
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
CUCURBITA maxima 'Atlantic Giant'
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Atlantic Giant Pumpkin, Pumpkin
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
कद्दू
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Kürbis
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
Citrouille
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Calabaza
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Κολοκύθι
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Abóbora
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Dynia
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
cucurbita
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Cornales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Cucurbiteae
Bombini
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
145
1
27800
👆🏻