Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia, India, Nepal
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Rubber Plant, Rubber Fig
Number of Varieties
760
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
agricultural areas, Along Railroads, Coastal Regions, Forests, Roadsides, Scrubs, Suburban areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm180.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Yellow, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Red, Dark Green, Crimson
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Elliptic to oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, 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
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Keep ground moist, Requires a lot of 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, 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
Prune for shortening long shoots
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
don't fertilize in winter
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Mealybugs, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Yellow Leaves
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
-
Flowers
Insignificant
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
-
Allergy
-
Asthma, breathing problems
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Latex
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Making rubber, Making tyres
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
FICUS elastica
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Rubber Plant
In Hindi
Chayote
रबड़ का पौधा
In German
Chayote
Ficus elastica
In French
Chayote
Ficus elastica
In Spanish
Chayote
ficus
In Greek
Chayote
ελαστικός φίκος
In Portuguese
chuchu
fábrica de borracha
In Polish
Chayote
gumy roślin
In Latin
chayote
Flexilis herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Rosales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Moraceae
Genus
Sechium
Ficus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Ficeae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
5800
1
27800
👆🏻