Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Cactus
Origin
Mexico, Central America
South America
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Gymnocalycium alboareolatum , Gymnocalycium amerhauseri , Gymnocalycium andreae
Number of Varieties
754
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Desert, Semi desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
13,21,22,23,24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm12.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm8.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
creamy white, Light Pink, Pink
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
-
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
All year
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Sand, Sandy
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Sandy
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
All year
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Offsets
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do not water excessively
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Sandy
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Dry
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Part sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
-
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, can go long without fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Mealy bugs, Root rot
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Dry soil, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Ants, Mealybugs
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ornamental use
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Bark, Fruits
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Decoration Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Showy Tree
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
GYMNOCALYCIUM
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Chin Cactus
In Hindi
Chayote
Gymnocalycium
In German
Chayote
Gymnocalycium
In French
Chayote
Gymnocalycium
In Spanish
Chayote
Gymnocalycium
In Greek
Chayote
Gymnocalycium
In Portuguese
chuchu
Gymnocalycium
In Polish
Chayote
Gymnocalycium
In Latin
chayote
Gymnocalycium
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Caryophyllales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Cactaceae
Genus
Sechium
Gymnocalycium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Tribe
Sicyeae
Trichocereeae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Cactoideae
Number of Species
554
1
27800
👆🏻