Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
-
Mexico, Central America
Types
-
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
127
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
All sorts of environments
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-6
12-3
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Twisted/Contorted
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
240.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Budding, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Average Water Needs
Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut leaves after fall, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, 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, Compost, fertilize in growing season
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Bacteria wilt, Fungal Diseases, Rats, Red blotch
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Dry soil, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
Dry Conditions
Flowers
Showy
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
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, Itchy eyes, Respiratory problems
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
Beautiful Skin, Good for the Scalp, Moisturizing, Remove blemishes
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Food for animals, Insect Repellent, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Dysentry, Nutritive, osteoporosis
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Application in Handicrafts, Biomass for fuel, Oil is used for aromatherapy
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Mixed Border
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
Arbutus menziesii
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Arbutus
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
सदाबहार
Chayote
In German
Erdbeerbaum
Chayote
In French
arbousier
Chayote
In Spanish
Arbitus
Chayote
In Greek
κουμαριά
Chayote
In Portuguese
árbuto
chuchu
In Polish
mącznik
Chayote
In Latin
arbutus
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
-
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ericales
Violales
Family
Ericaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Arbutus
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Arbutoideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
85
1
27800
👆🏻