Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Vegetable
Origin
Southeastern United States
Mexico, Central America
Types
Aesculus parviflora
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
27
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Bluffs, Coastal Regions, Stream side, Woods
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
12-3
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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
180.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Pink
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Lemon yellow, Yellow green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Palmate
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Salt, Wind
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep the Soil well drained, 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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K, slow-release fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Edema, Powdery mildew, Verticillium Wilt
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Salt, Wind
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
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Pollen
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antirheumatic, Colic, constipation, Piles
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Seeds
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Used for making soaps
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Screening, Wind Break
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
AESCULUS parviflora
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
bottlebrush buckeye, dwarf horse chestnut
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Bottlebrush Buckeye
Chayote
In German
Buckeye Putzer
Chayote
In French
Bottlebrush Buckeye
Chayote
In Spanish
bottlebrush Buckeye
Chayote
In Greek
bottlebrush Buckeye
Chayote
In Portuguese
Bottlebrush Buckeye
chuchu
In Polish
Bottlebrush Buckeye
Chayote
In Latin
bottlebrush Buckeye
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Violales
Family
Hippocastanaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Aesculus
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Hippocastanoideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
195
1
27800
👆🏻