Creeping Cucumber is a slender, climbing, scrambling perennial shrub or liana (a long, stemmed woody vine) in the cucumber family. It will climb with tendrils. It resembles the garden cucumber, with small yellow flowers, lobed leaves, and a similar growth pattern. However, the berries, which resemble small watermelons, can be toxic. Creeping Cucumber does best in simple garden soil with good drainage, consistent watering, and full sun. It will tolerate dry conditions. Clemson University, Home and Garden Information Center, has a short article on Creeping Cucumber, its ability to spread and climb, and possible toxicity. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: The plant is susceptible to powdery mildew.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
The leaves are 3 to 5 lobed and ivy-shaped with two lobes in a palmate pattern. The climbing tendrils grow beside the leaves.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Long Bloom Season
Flower form
Solitary
Flower shape
Saucer
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flower of Creeping Cucumber is held on a long pedicel. The yellow blossom has 5 lobes and is 1/4 inch across or smaller. Blossoms appear from April into October. The flowers solitary, axillary, and 5-parted.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black; Green
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
1-3 inches long
Fruit detail
One inch long ovate green watermelon type fruits dangle at the end of the pedicel. The fruit is initially green but turns black with white seeds when ripe.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and Eastern United States, Central, and South America.
Distribution
Americas from Pennsylvania south to Argentina. Introduced into China, Taiwan, and the Philippines.
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
The berries, when unripe and light green can be eaten raw but can have a strong laxative effect, especially when black and ripe.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used to treat unspecified medicinal disorders, as a medicine. It is also used for food.