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Native Plant Society of Texas

Balsam Gourd

Ibervillea lindheimeri

Other common name(s):

Lindheimer's Globeberry, Globe Berry, Snake-apple, Balsam-apple

Family:

Cucurbitaceae (Cucumber Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Central Great Plains, Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, East Central Texas Plains, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies
Limestone Plains, Red Prairie
Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Carbonate Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie, Limestone Cut Plain, Western Cross Timbers
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift, Semiarid Edwards Plateau
Coastal Sand Plain, Floodplains and Low Terraces4, Laguna Madre Barrier Island and Coastal Marshes, Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Lower Rio Grande Valley, Mid-Coast Barrier Islands and Coastal Marshes, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Southern Subhumid Gulf Coastal Prairies, Texas-Louisiana Coastal Marshes
Northern Nueces Alluvial Plains, Rio Grande Floodplain and Terraces, Semiarid Edwards Bajada, Texas-Tamaulipan Thornscrub
Northern Blackland Prairie

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Vine

Height

6
to
20
ft.

Spread

1
to
2
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Moist, Saline

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer

Seasonal Interest

Fruit, Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Nectar Insects

Maintenance

The leaves and small yellow flowers of the balsam-gourd vine are attractive, but the ornamental value of this plant lies in its bright red fruit. Will set more fruit in a sunnier setting, but it will also work in shade gardens. Climbs by tendrils so will need a fence or trellis for support. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Blooms April-September. A vine that climbs by tendrils. Leaf has 3-5 lobes, deeply cut and fine-toothed. The creamy yellow flowers are tubular with 5 spreading lobes. The fruit is over 1 inch in diameter, with green stripes when young, but bright red when ripe. Before maturing it has a spiny-looking green covering which it sheds as it develops.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Ibervillea tenella, Ibervillea tripartita

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Seed No Treatment Propagates usually from seeds that must be sown in the spring and will germinate at about 20° C. The seedlings' caudex forms below ground and will grow much faster if left underground for some years. Warm temperatures are crucial for germination. Once germinated, handle seedlings carefully during transplanting and provide adequate light, gradually acclimatizing them to outdoor conditions before final planting. 1) https://myplantin.com/plant/763 2) https://www.llifle.com/Encyclopedia/SUCCULENTS/Family/Cucurbitaceae/31787/Ibervillea_lindheimeri#:~:text=Pest%20and%20disease:%20Bugs%2C%20mealy,left%20underground%20for%20some%20years. 3) https://www.picturethisai.com/wiki/Ibervillea_lindheimeri.html
Stem Cutting Remove the lower leaves. Put the cutting in a pot with a moist substrate and rinse it regularly until the branch roots in several weeks. cut a healthy 4-inch (10 cm) long mature stem. https://myplantin.com/plant/763

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason