Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Mexico, Central America, South America
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
730
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-5
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm610.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Green, Yellow green, Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Elliptic
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
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
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do Not over Water, It cannot sustain wet-feet, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Never Over-water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water when soil is dry
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
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
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
Insignificant
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds
Allergy
-
Gastric, Kidney Stone
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for birds, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Nutrients, Stomach aliments, Treatment of ulcers, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Fruits, Seeds, Stem
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Economic Purpose, Used As Food, Used in making beverages
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Edible, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
ANACARDIUM occidentale
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Acajou, Cashew
In Hindi
Chayote
काजू के पेड़
In German
Chayote
Cashew Baum
In French
Chayote
Anacardier
In Spanish
Chayote
árbol de anacardo
In Greek
Chayote
δέντρο κάσιους
In Portuguese
chuchu
cajueiro
In Polish
Chayote
drzewo nerkowca
In Latin
chayote
cashew ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Sapindales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Anacardiaceae
Genus
Sechium
Anacardium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Anacardium occidentale, Mangifera indica 'Champagne', Pachycormus discolor, Pistacia chinensis
Number of Species
5600
1
27800
👆🏻