Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Grass
Origin
Mexico, Central America
United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Virginia water horehound
Number of Varieties
7-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
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
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-155-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
9 - 1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
-
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm60.96 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm30.48 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
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Orange, Tan, Brown
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Tan, Sandy Brown
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Pollution, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Divison, Root Division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs, 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
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought
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
Coarse
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for birds, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Back pain, Diarrhea, Frostbite, Itching, Piles, Sore Eyes, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Root, Seeds, Stem
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Cattle Fodder, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Wildflower
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
ANDROPOGON virginicus
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Broomsedge, Broomsedge Bluestem
In Hindi
Chayote
Broomsedge grass
In German
Chayote
broomsedge Gras
In French
Chayote
broomsedge herbe
In Spanish
Chayote
hierba Broomsedge
In Greek
Chayote
Broomsedge γρασίδι
In Portuguese
chuchu
Broomsedge grama
In Polish
Chayote
Broomsedge trawy
In Latin
chayote
Broomsedge herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Violales
Cyperales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Sechium
Andropogon
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Sicyeae
Andropogoneae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Panicoideae
Number of Species
51
1
27800
👆🏻