Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
India, Nepal, China
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Betula utilis
Number of Varieties
72
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Mountains
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-155-7
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
7-5
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm760.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Tan, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Yellow green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Cordiform
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Grafting, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Average Water
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
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial 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
Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize in late fall, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Honey fungus, Leaves with brown tip, Phytophthora Root Rot, Powdery mildew, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Dry Conditions, waterlogging, Wet Site
Flowers
Insignificant
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
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
-
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Weightloss
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Antioxidants, Antiseptic, Carminative
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Bark, Leaves
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used in construction, Wood is used in construction
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
BETULA utilis
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Himalayan Birch
In Hindi
Chayote
हिमालय सन्टी
In German
Chayote
Himalaya-Birke
In French
Chayote
bouleau de l'Himalaya
In Spanish
Chayote
abedul del Himalaya
In Greek
Chayote
Himalayan σημύδας
In Portuguese
chuchu
bétula Himalaia
In Polish
Chayote
Himalayan brzoza
In Latin
chayote
Birch Himalayan
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Fagales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Betulaceae
Genus
Sechium
Betula
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
530
1
27800
👆🏻