Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
India
Mexico, Central America
Types
Pednem Keri, Kasarpal, Parashte
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
-7
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Foot Hills, Tropical regions
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-3
Sunset Zone
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
500.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
10.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Dark Pink
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Burgundy
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Gray Green, Copper
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive, Gray Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblong-lanceolate
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
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Needs more water during establishment
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 shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Leafminers, Red blotch, Root mealy bugs
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Dry Conditions
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, Birds, Butterflies
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
For treating wrinkles, Good for skin and hair, Hair Conditioner, Makes Hair Silkier, Promotes Healthy Hair
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anthelmintic, Antitumor, Astringent, Cardiotonic, Dysentry, Indigestion
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Edible syrup, Used for its medicinal properties, Used to make juice
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Fruit, Fruit / Fruit Tree
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
Garcinia indica
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Kokum
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Kokum
Chayote
In German
Kokum
Chayote
In French
Kokum
Chayote
In Spanish
Kokum
Chayote
In Greek
Kokum
Chayote
In Portuguese
Kokum
chuchu
In Polish
Kokum
Chayote
In Latin
Kokum
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Theales
Violales
Family
Zamiaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Garcinia
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Garcinieae
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Clusioideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
15
1
27800
👆🏻