Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
India
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Pednem Keri, Kasarpal, Parashte
Number of Varieties
7-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Foot Hills, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm500.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm10.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Dark Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Burgundy
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green, Gray Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Olive, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Oblong-lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, 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
Early Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do Not over Water, Needs more water during establishment
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 shade
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
Leafminers, Red blotch, Root mealy bugs
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
For treating wrinkles, Good for skin and hair, Hair Conditioner, Makes Hair Silkier, Promotes Healthy Hair
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Anthelmintic, Antitumor, Astringent, Cardiotonic, Dysentry, Indigestion
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Fruits
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Edible syrup, Used for its medicinal properties, Used to make juice
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Fruit, Fruit / Fruit Tree
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
Garcinia indica
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Kokum
In Hindi
Chayote
Kokum
In German
Chayote
Kokum
In French
Chayote
Kokum
In Spanish
Chayote
Kokum
In Greek
Chayote
Kokum
In Portuguese
chuchu
Kokum
In Polish
Chayote
Kokum
In Latin
chayote
Kokum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Theales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Zamiaceae
Genus
Sechium
Garcinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Garcinieae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Clusioideae
Number of Species
51
1
27800
👆🏻