In 1905 we purchased some seedlings of this cucurbit when they had tender, green caudexes about 2” in diameter. We grew them in pots for the next decade where they swelled to 5” or more in diameter and developed grayish bark characteristic of mature plants. However, it wasn’t until we bedded them out along a chain link fence enclosing a shade structure in our nursery that they really showed what they can do. The glossy, ivy-like foliage is borne on vines climbing with tendrils. These soon covered the fence and climbed up on top of the shade structure and now need to be pulled down and tamed annually. The result of all this foliage is a healthy production of photosynthates that are shunted to the caudexes, stored for some future dry spell. Some of these caudexes have formed massive cushions or biscuit-like structures 2’ or more across and 1’ high. We bedded out enough plants to increase our chances of flowering both male and female plants simultaneously, for seed production. This was spectacularly successful as plants now flower regularly and produce ample seed to supply this introduction. We offer HBG 144194, seedlings from HBG 122808, the original crop bedded out along the fence. If you have such a fence you’d rather see covered with a screen of glossy, green foliage, plant one or more of these and stand back! Under the right conditions growth can be remarkable. $20.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 96 (2), Summer 2024