Butternut squash

Cucurbita moschata is the heat-tolerant squash behind butternut and much of the kaddu and pumpkin sold in Indian markets. It handles hot, humid weather better than other squash species, which made it the main pumpkin of the tropics. In India it goes into kaddu ki sabzi, sambar, halwa and poriyal. It was domesticated in northern South America or Mexico.

Botanical name

Cucurbita moschata Duchesne

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Tamil

Butternut poosanikai

Hindi

Kaddu

Parts used

Mature flesh, Seeds, Flowers

Habit

Heat-tolerant squash, the everyday kaddu of Indian kitchens

Last updated

2026-10-27

How to recognise Butternut squash

It is a long, trailing vine with soft-hairy stems that root at the nodes.

The leaves are large, soft and shallowly lobed, often with silvery-white blotches.

Big yellow flowers open in the morning.

The fruit stalk is five-angled but widens and flares where it joins the fruit, a key sign of this species.

Fruits vary from tan butternut shapes to large, ribbed, green or orange pumpkins with deep orange flesh.

Traditional use of Butternut squash

Kitchen

Kaddu ki sabzi, sweet-sour pumpkin with fenugreek and jaggery, is served with puri in North India.

North Indian food practice

Kitchen

Pumpkin goes into South Indian sambar, kootu and erissery, and the flowers are dipped in batter and fried.

South Indian food practice

Kitchen

Roasted butternut squash and soups are common in Western kitchens.

Western food practice

Modern notes on Butternut squash

The orange flesh is rich in beta-carotene and supplies fibre, potassium and vitamin C.

Mature fruits store for months in a cool, dry place.

Pumpkin seeds are a good source of protein, magnesium and zinc.

Butternut squash safety

Pumpkin is a safe food. Discard any squash that tastes bitter, which can signal toxic cucurbitacins.

Ecology and sourcing

It was domesticated in the American tropics.

Bees pollinate the flowers, and fruit set depends on them.

Its vines spread over the ground and shade out weeds.

Related plants

Also in Cucurbitaceae

Questions about Butternut squash

Is butternut squash a pumpkin?

It is the same species as many tropical pumpkins.

How do I identify Butternut squash species?

Look for a five-angled stalk that flares at the fruit.

Can the flowers of Butternut squash be eaten?

Yes. They are fried in batter.

How long does pumpkin keep?

Whole, for months in a cool, dry place.

Is Butternut squash the same as zucchini?

No. Zucchini is Cucurbita pepo.

Sources

• Cucurbita moschata Duchesne — Plants of the World Online, Kew (search) (accessed 2026)
• Wikidata item Q160571 (Cucurbita moschata)

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.