Group/Class:  Gourd-Ornamental

Description:

A wonderful vigorous vining heirloom variety that produces high yields of small pear shaped, yellow and green gourds with cream stipes; perfect for any autumnal decoration; very bitter and tough, not recommended for culinary use

Ornamental Features

Bicolor Pear Gourd is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. It features an abundance of magnificent yellow berries with dark green variegation from late summer to late fall. Its large lobed leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Bicolor Pear Gourd is a spreading annual with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Bicolor Pear Gourd is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Bicolor Pear Gourd will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 24 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. This fast-growing annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone over the growing season to conserve soil moisture. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.