What plant species does spaghetti squash belong to?

Spaghetti squash belongs to the species *Cucurbita pepo*.

The name “spaghetti squash” describes a group of cultivars rather than a separate botanical species. These cultivars produce oval fruits whose cooked flesh separates into long, noodle-like strands. The flesh is commonly served as a lower-carbohydrate alternative to pasta, although it is botanically a squash and not a grain product.

*Cucurbita pepo* also includes familiar crops such as zucchini, pumpkins, pattypan squash, acorn squash, and vegetable marrow. That broad range can cause confusion: *Cucurbita moschata* includes butternut squash, while *Cucurbita maxima* includes many large pumpkins and winter squashes. Spaghetti squash is classified within the *C. pepo* group, commonly associated with the vegetable-marrow cultivar group.

The species is native to the Americas and was domesticated thousands of years ago. Its fruits vary greatly in shape, size, and color, but the distinctive stringy texture after cooking is what makes spaghetti squash easy to recognize in markets and kitchens.