Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Vegetable
Origin
United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Mexico, Central America
Types
Virginia water horehound
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
-7
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Along Railroads, Barren waste areas, Hill prairies, Mined land, Pastures, Roadsides, Rocky glades, Sandy areas, Upland, Upland clay prairies, Upland sand prairies, Upland sandy savannas, Upland savannas, Upland soils
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-810-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
12-3
Sunset Zone
-
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
60.96 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.48 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
-
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Orange, Tan, Brown
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Sandy Brown
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
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 Fall, Fall
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, Root Division, Seedlings
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
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 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
Red blotch
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
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
Fine
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Pollen
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for birds, Wildlife
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Back pain, Diarrhea, Frostbite, Itching, Piles, Sore Eyes, Sore throat
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Root, Seeds, Stem
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Cattle Fodder, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Wildflower
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
ANDROPOGON virginicus
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Broomsedge, Broomsedge Bluestem
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Broomsedge grass
Chayote
In German
broomsedge Gras
Chayote
In French
broomsedge herbe
Chayote
In Spanish
hierba Broomsedge
Chayote
In Greek
Broomsedge γρασίδι
Chayote
In Portuguese
Broomsedge grama
chuchu
In Polish
Broomsedge trawy
Chayote
In Latin
Broomsedge herba
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Violales
Family
Poaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Andropogon
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Andropogoneae
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Panicoideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
15
1
27800
👆🏻