Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
Mexico, Central America
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
Not available
  
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Hillside
  
gardens
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
  
12-7
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Vining/Climbing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Light Green
  
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Green
  
Purple, Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Irregular
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Medium
  
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
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
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
  
Insects, Mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects, Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
  
Astringent
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
  
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
Chayote
  
भारतीय पालक
  
In German
Chayote
  
Indian Spinat
  
In French
Chayote
  
épinards indienne
  
In Spanish
Chayote
  
espinaca india
  
In Greek
Chayote
  
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
chuchu
  
espinafre indiano
  
In Polish
Chayote
  
Indyjski szpinak
  
In Latin
chayote
  
Spinach Indian
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Violales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Cucurbitaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Sechium
  
Basella
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Sicyeae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
  
Not Available
  
Season and Care of Chayote and Indian Spinach
Season and care of Chayote and Indian Spinach is important to know. While considering everything about Chayote and Indian Spinach Care, growing season is an essential factor. Chayote season is Spring, Summer and Fall and Indian Spinach season is Spring, Summer and Fall. The type of soil for Chayote is Loam, Sand and for Indian Spinach is Clay, Loam while the PH of soil for Chayote is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Indian Spinach is Neutral.
Chayote and Indian Spinach Physical Information
Chayote and Indian Spinach physical information is very important for comparison. Chayote height is 610.00 cm and width Not Available whereas Indian Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width Not Available. The color specification of Chayote and Indian Spinach are as follows:
Chayote flower color: Light Green
Chayote leaf color: Green
Indian Spinach flower color: White, Pink and Light Pink
- Indian Spinach leaf color: Green, Light Green
Care of Chayote and Indian Spinach
Care of Chayote and Indian Spinach include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Chayote pruning is done Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Indian Spinach pruning is done Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Requires very little pruning. In summer Chayote needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Indian Spinach needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.