Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southeastern Asia, China
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Radermachera sinica
Number of Varieties
717
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Clay soil areas, Subtropical forests
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
10-8
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm490.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White, Gold
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings, Spores, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Needs 2-3 times watering per week
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Aphids, Black rot, Mildew, Root rot, Snails
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Dry soil, Salt and Soil Compaction
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Aphids, Leafminer, Mosquitos
Allergy
-
Abdominal distension, Inflammation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Glowing Skin, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, soil stabilisation, Very little waste
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Aging, Anti-fungal, Emmoiliant
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Leaves
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Application in Handicrafts, Biomass for fuel
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
RADERMACHERA sinica
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
China Doll
In Hindi
Chayote
चीनी गुड़िया पेड़
In German
Chayote
Zimmeresche
In French
Chayote
china doll
In Spanish
Chayote
china doll
In Greek
Chayote
δέντρο κούκλα Κίνα
In Portuguese
chuchu
china árvore boneca
In Polish
Chayote
China Doll drzewo
In Latin
chayote
Sinis pupa ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Lamiales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Bignoniaceae
Genus
Sechium
Radermachera
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Sicyeae
Tecomeae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
517
1
27800
👆🏻