Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Japanese Evergreen Oak, Sawthorn Oak, Oriental White Oak
Number of Varieties
720
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-154-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm2,438.40 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm1,219.20 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Red, Light Yellow, Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Brown, Sandy Brown, Chocolate
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Copper
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Orange, Brown, Dark Red
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Lobed
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Wet Site, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Needs a lot of water initially, occasional watering once established, Water Deeply
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove branches, Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, High amounts of nutrients, organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought, Wet Site
Flowers
Insignificant
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds
Allergy
-
Hay fever, Itchy eyes, Runny nose, sneezing, Watery eyes, Whooping Cough
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Antiaphonic, Antiasthamatic, Astringent, Chronic fatigue, Cold, Dysentry, Emetic, Febrifuge, Haemorrhages, Indigestion, Opthalmic, Salve, Sore Eyes, Sore throat, Tonic, Treating fever
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Inner Bark, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Tannin, Used as a dye, Used as fuel, Used as insect repellent, Used for woodware
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
QUERCUS velutina
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Black Oak
In Hindi
Chayote
Black Oak Tree
In German
Chayote
Schwarz Oak Tree
In French
Chayote
Noir Oak Tree
In Spanish
Chayote
Negro del árbol de roble
In Greek
Chayote
Black Oak Tree
In Portuguese
chuchu
Carvalho Preto
In Polish
Chayote
Czarny Dąb
In Latin
chayote
Niger quercum ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Fagales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Fagaceae
Genus
Sechium
Quercus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Cherokee
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
5600
1
27800
👆🏻