Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
73
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Dappled Shade, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-153-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,520.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Yellow green, Chartreuse
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Green, Indigo, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow, Red, Orange, Yellow green, Bronze, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
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
Clay, 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
Nitrogen, Phosphorous
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Foliage diseases
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Insects
Allergy
-
Dermatitis, Diaphoresis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Alterative, Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Leaves
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as a condiment, Used in making tea, Used to flavour soups
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
SASSAFRAS albidum
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Sassafras
In Hindi
Chayote
Sassafras
In German
Chayote
Sassafras
In French
Chayote
Sassafras
In Spanish
Chayote
Sasafrás
In Greek
Chayote
σασάφρα
In Portuguese
chuchu
sassafrás
In Polish
Chayote
Sassafras
In Latin
chayote
Sassafras
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Laurales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Lauraceae
Genus
Sechium
Sassafras
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Cinnamomeae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Lauroideae
Number of Species
54
1
27800
👆🏻