Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia, India, Nepal
Mexico, Central America
Types
Rubber Plant, Rubber Fig
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
607
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
agricultural areas, Along Railroads, Coastal Regions, Forests, Roadsides, Scrubs, Suburban areas
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
12-3
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
90.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Yellow green
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic to oblong
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
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
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Vegetative Reproduction
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires a lot of watering
Medium
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, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune for shortening long shoots
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
don't fertilize in winter
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Yellow Leaves
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
-
Dry Conditions
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
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Latex
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Making rubber, Making tyres
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
FICUS elastica
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Rubber Plant
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
रबड़ का पौधा
Chayote
In German
Ficus elastica
Chayote
In French
Ficus elastica
Chayote
In Spanish
ficus
Chayote
In Greek
ελαστικός φίκος
Chayote
In Portuguese
fábrica de borracha
chuchu
In Polish
gumy roślin
Chayote
In Latin
Flexilis herba
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Rosales
Violales
Family
Moraceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Ficus
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Ficeae
Sicyeae
Subfamily
-
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
8005
1
27800
👆🏻