Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Vegetable
Origin
Southeastern Asia, China
Mexico, Central America
Types
Schefflera actinophylla, Schefflera morototoni, Schefflera heptaphylla
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
37
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Moist Soils
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-3
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
243.84 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
182.88 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Bronze
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Orange, Black
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
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
Early Summer, Summer
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Keep ground moist, Requires regular 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
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize once a year
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
-
Dry Conditions
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
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Aphids, Birds, Bugs, Wildlife
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
breathing problems, Burning sensation, Difficulty swallowing, Poisonous, Swelling
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bonsai, Showy Purposes
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Abdominal Disease, Arthritis, Bleeding, Kidney Stones, Muscle Pain, Recovering internal injuries, Rheumatism, Swelling, Upset stomach
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Root
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Container, Showy Purposes, Used for making hedge
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA arboricola
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Umbrella plant
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Arboricola
Plant
Chayote
In German
arboricola
Pflanze
Chayote
In French
arboricola
Plante
Chayote
In Spanish
arboricola
Planta
Chayote
In Greek
Αρμπορικόλα
Φυτό
Chayote
In Portuguese
arboricola
Plantar
chuchu
In Polish
arboricola
Roślina
Chayote
In Latin
arboricola
planta
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Vascular plant
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Apiales
Violales
Family
Araliaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Schefflera
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Aralioideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
1505
1
27800
👆🏻