Quercus

Field Pumpkin

Cucurbita pepo

Not native to Kentucky

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

17CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · Cucurbita

  • Agrotis ipsilonIpsilon Dart, Black Cutworm, Greasy Cutworm
  • Diaphania hyalinataMelonworm Moth
  • Diaphania nitidalisPickleworm Moth
  • Eichlinia cucurbitaeSquash Vine Borer
  • Estigmene acreaSalt Marsh Moth, Acrea Moth
  • Euxoa tessellataTessellate Dart, Striped Cutworm
  • Feltia subgothicaSubgothic Dart
  • Feltia subterraneaSubterranean Dart, Granulate Cutworm
  • Helicoverpa zeaCorn Earworm Moth
  • Papaipema nebrisStalk Borer
Show all 17
  • Proxenus mirandaMiranda Moth, Glistening Rustic
  • Spaelotis clandestinaClandestine Dart, W-Marked Cutworm
  • Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
  • Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
  • Spodoptera frugiperdaFall Armyworm Moth
  • Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
  • Trichoplusia niNi Moth, Cabbage Looper Moth
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
1Specialist beesPollen specialists

Pollen specialists · Cucurbita

  • Xenoglossa strenua
Smith, Bachelder, Russell, Morales, Mosher & Seltmann 2024, Bee-Specialization-Modeling v0.6.1 (specialist host table compiled from J. Fowler's pollen specialist bee lists), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Cucurbitaceae
Hardiness
Zones 3a–11b
Soil pH
Neutral
Flower color
Yellow

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Field Pumpkin; Ornamental Gourd; Pumpkin; Vegetable Marrow; Zucchini

Conservation status

Kentucky rankSNA
Global rankG4G5
KY statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources