Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
7-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm1,520.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires a lot of watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
-
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
constipation, Diarrhea, Digestive disorders, Dysentry, Fever, Tooth ache
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Making Shampoo, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
ALEURITES moluccanus
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Candleberry, Candlenut, Kukui
In Hindi
Chayote
candlenut पेड़
In German
Chayote
Candlenut Baum
In French
Chayote
arbre Candlenut
In Spanish
Chayote
árbol candlenut
In Greek
Chayote
candlenut δέντρο
In Portuguese
chuchu
candlenut árvore
In Polish
Chayote
Tung Molukański drzewo
In Latin
chayote
Candlenut ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Spermatophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Violales
Malpighiales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Sechium
Aleurites
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Aleuritideae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
5600
1
27800
👆🏻