 The name is most commonly used for cultivars of "Cucurbita pepo", but some cultivars of "Cucurbita maxima", "C. argyrosperma", and "C. moschata" with similar appearance are also sometimes called "pumpkin".Native to North America (northeastern Mexico and the southern United States), pumpkins are one of the oldest domesticated plants, having been used as early as 7,500 to 5,000 BC.Pumpkins are widely grown for commercial use and as food, aesthetics, and recreational purposes.