Wild Cucumber Vine / Creeping Melon Weed
Cucumis melo (or related wild cucurbit species) · Warm-season, annual broadleaf weed
Grass Family
Cucurbitaceae (Note: This is a broadleaf weed vine, not a true grass, though found invading lawns)
Grass Category
Invasive/Weed Grass or Broadleaf Weed
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3-10
About This Grass
A low-growing vine with rounded, lobed, rough-textured green leaves, slender stems, and producing tiny yellow flowers that develop into very small, immature melon-like fruits.
Blade Characteristics
Not applicable as this is a broadleaf vine possessing lobed leaves rather than grass blades
Root System
Taproot system with lateral branching roots, moderate establishment speed
Growing Information
Origin Region
Globally distributed in temperate and tropical regions as a weed
Growth Habit
Trailing and climbing vine, spreading via creeping stems along the ground
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade with moderate moisture needs
Mowing & Maintenance
Requires manual pulling, selective broadleaf herbicides, or frequent mowing to control spread
Special Characteristics
Low wear tolerance, aggressive vine growth that smothers turfgrass, highly adaptable to disturbed soils
Ecological Information
Introduced weed status in many lawns, provides minimal desirable wildlife value compared to native plants, often managed as an unwanted garden and turf pest
Notes
What is this growing in my yard? They are yellow and small