Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Western United States
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Picea omorika
Number of Varieties
735
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Rocky areas, stream banks, Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-152-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,200.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm900.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Green, Orange, Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Blue Green, Gray Green, Steel Blue
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Needle like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Early Spring, Late Spring, Mid Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings, Semi-ripe cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular 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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
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
Prune in winter, Remove crossing or rubbing branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 10-10-10 amount, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds
Allergy
-
allergic reaction, Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Hay fever, Pollen, Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Watery eyes
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Showy Purposes, Used as Christmas tree
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Flowers, Inner Bark, Seeds
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Paper pulp, Wood is used in construction
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Screening, Wind Break
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
PICEA pungens
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Colorado blue spruce
In Hindi
Chayote
Blue Spruce Tree
In German
Chayote
Blue Spruce Baum
In French
Chayote
Blue Spruce Arbre
In Spanish
Chayote
Blue Spruce Árbol
In Greek
Chayote
Blue Spruce Tree
In Portuguese
chuchu
Árvore Spruce azul
In Polish
Chayote
Blue Spruce Drzewo
In Latin
chayote
Blue abiegnis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Coniferophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Pinopsida
Order
Violales
Pinales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Pinaceae
Genus
Sechium
Picea
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Piceoideae
Number of Species
535
1
27800
👆🏻