Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Cactus or Succulent
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Eastern Asia, India
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
7-
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Temperate Regions, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm120.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm12.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Yellow, Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green
Pink
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Succulent
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
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
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Grafting, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
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 if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize in fall, fertilize in spring, fertilize in summer, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Root rot, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Insects
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Beautification, Bonsai, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for insects, Very little waste, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Leaves
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Air freshner, Showy Purposes, Traditional medicine, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
EUPHORBIA lactea
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Mottled Spurge, Frilled Fan, Elkhorn
In Hindi
Chayote
Elkhorn
In German
Chayote
Elkhorn
In French
Chayote
Elkhorn
In Spanish
Chayote
cuerno de alce
In Greek
Chayote
Elkhorn
In Portuguese
chuchu
Elkhorn
In Polish
Chayote
Elkhorn
In Latin
chayote
Elkhorn
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Malpighiales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Sechium
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
51
1
27800
👆🏻