Coyote Gourd
Cucurbita palmata
ABOUT
During the spring you may see a bare stalk begin growing out of the ground. If you revisit the same spot over the next few months and early summer, you’ll find that it continues to grow, and grow, and grow - this bare stalk with seemingly no flowers or leaves - what IS this plant? You might think.
If you’re persistent and patient enough, you can come back and actually find this strange plant in bloom! Flowers ornately arranged up and down the stalk - the long stemmed buckwheat never got the memo that plants are supposed to have leaves.
They seem to thrive in sunny open areas, the plant has put all its energy into growing fast and tall, above the surrounding competitors.
Sometimes called “Wand Buckwheat”
