Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Southwestern United States, Canada
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Cercis
Number of Varieties
725
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Bluffs, stream banks, Wet forest, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-153-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
9-6
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm760.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm760.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White, Purple, Pink, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Brown, Chocolate
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Purple, Plum
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, 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 Spring, Spring, Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Dry soil, Salt, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Ample Water
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, 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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove hanging branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Caterpillars, Red blotch, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Dry soil, Salt, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds
Allergy
-
Mild Allergen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Beautification, Bonsai, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Astringent, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Fever, Leukemia
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Bark, Buds, Flowers, Seeds
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as firewood, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used for woodware
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
CERCIS canadensis
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Eastern Redbud
In Hindi
Chayote
Eastern Redbud
In German
Chayote
OstRedbud
In French
Chayote
Redbud Orient
In Spanish
Chayote
Eastern Redbud
In Greek
Chayote
Ανατολική κουτσουπιά
In Portuguese
chuchu
Redbud oriental
In Polish
Chayote
Redbud wschodniej
In Latin
chayote
Cercis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Fabales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Sechium
Cercis
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Cercideae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Caesalpiniaceae
Number of Species
510
1
27800
👆🏻