Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
73
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm1,520.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Maple shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very 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
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Water daily during growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Moderate
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
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
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
Aphids, Insects
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Nausea, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
For treating wrinkles, Moisturizing, used as a dye
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Cramps, Dermatitis
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Can be made into a herbal tea, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Sauces, Used as firewood
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
ALEURITES moluccanus
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Candleberry, Candlenut, Kukui
In Hindi
Chayote
Aleurites moluccanus
In German
Chayote
Lichtnussbaum
In French
Chayote
Aleurites moluccana
In Spanish
Chayote
Aleurites moluccanus
In Greek
Chayote
Aleurites moluccanus
In Portuguese
chuchu
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Polish
Chayote
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Latin
chayote
Aleurites moluccanus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Euphorbiales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Sechium
Aleurites
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Aleuritideae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
550
1
27800
👆🏻