Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
United States, Central United States
Mexico, Central America
Types
Deciduous Tree
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
3347
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Woodland Garden Canopy
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-810-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-4
12-3
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,830.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green, Chartreuse
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Chocolate
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Tan, Brown
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
oblong or obovate
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Water during dry weather
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
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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
Phosphorous
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Anthracnose, Sunken patches
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
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
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Severe allergen
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiseptic, Astringent, Emetic, Febrifuge, Tonic
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Seeds
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute, Used as a thickening in stews, Wood is used for making furniture
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
QUERCUS imbricaria
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Shingle Oak
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Shingle Oak
Chayote
In German
Kies Eiche
Chayote
In French
Shingle Oak
Chayote
In Spanish
teja de madera de roble
Chayote
In Greek
βότσαλα Oak
Chayote
In Portuguese
Shingle Oak
chuchu
In Polish
gont Oak
Chayote
In Latin
Quercus imbricaria
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fagales
Violales
Family
Fagaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Quercus
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Fagoideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
85
1
27800
👆🏻