What if we told you there is a native gourd that's wonderfully ornamental, easy to grow, and perennial north to Zone 4? May we introduce you to the buffalo gourd? Native to deserts from Canada south to New Mexico, this amazing plant forms a 25' wide vine adorned with 1' long, hastate, sandpapery, glaucous leaves and an abundance of huge 4" wide, yellow-orange, chalice-shaped flowers that open in early morning. If the flowers are pollinated you'll also have a nice crop of small green-striped gourds in fall.