Name:  Lagenaria siceraria aka bottle gourd, calabash or birdhouse gourd

Type of Plant: An annual vine that produces gourds that can be made into bird houses, bottles or art.

Why I Love/Hate this plant: This is a fun plant to grow. It’s a fast-growing vine that can climb 6 to 10 feet up an arbor or trellis, and produce dozens of gourds that are decorative and useful.

A Word to the Wise: This plant is best grown from seed. Plant the seeds once the night time temperatures are reliably above 50 degrees f. because this is a heat-loving plant. Provide strings or other support for the first two feet of growth if your trellis or arbor is higher.

These gourds are beautiful on the arbor.

By August the seed-grown gourds will cover a 7 to 8 foot structure with ease.

Why limit yourself to flowers on an arbor when you could have these lovely gourds?