Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
725
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Well Drained
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-158-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm150.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White, Yellow, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Olive, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Elliptic
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
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
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Budding, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs, Do not water frequently, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering
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
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K, Phosphorous
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought, Dry Conditions
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
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
Bees, Flying insects
Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Borders, Cottage Garden, Used in parkland
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Cough, Rheumatism
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Shade Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
CORDIA boissieri
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Anacahuita, Texas Olive
In Hindi
Chayote
Anacahuita
In German
Chayote
Anacahuita
In French
Chayote
anacahuita
In Spanish
Chayote
anacahuita
In Greek
Chayote
Anacahuita
In Portuguese
chuchu
Anacahuita
In Polish
Chayote
Anacahuita
In Latin
chayote
Anacahuita
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Boraginales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Boraginaceae
Genus
Sechium
Cordia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
5300
1
27800
👆🏻