Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
71
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Clay soil areas, Forests, open Woodlands, Sandy areas, Well Drained
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm670.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Yellow, Lemon yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Dark Salmon, Sienna
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune up lowest branches, Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought, Salt
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Butterflies
Allergy
-
Headache, Nausea, Skin irritation, Swelling
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Diarrhea, Digestion problems, Dysentry, Pulmonary hemorrhage, Skin Disorders, Soothing and relieving pain, Stimulates menstruation, Ulcers, Urinary problems, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Bark, Seeds, Wood
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Carvings, Used as firewood, Wood is used in construction, Wood log is used in making fences
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
CAESALPINIA echinata
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Brazilwood, Indian Savin Tree, Peachwood
In Hindi
Chayote
Brazilwood Tree
In German
Chayote
Brasil Baum
In French
Chayote
Brazilwood Arbre
In Spanish
Chayote
Árbol de palo de brasil
In Greek
Chayote
brazilwood Δέντρο
In Portuguese
chuchu
Árvore de pau-brasil
In Polish
Chayote
brazylijskich Drzewo
In Latin
chayote
Brazilwood ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Fabales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Sechium
Caesalpinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Caesalpinieae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Caesalpinioideae
Number of Species
5100
1
27800
👆🏻