Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Cactus or Succulent, Ornamental Plants, Perennial
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Madagascar
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
P. ambongense P. baronii P. bicolor P. bispinosum P. brevicaule P. cactipes P. decaryi P. densiflorum P. eburneum P. geayi P. gracilius
Number of Varieties
7192
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Rocky areas, Tropical areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm90.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green
Gray Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Long Narrow
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Drought Tolerant, Reduce watering in winter
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, Moist, Sand, Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune in winter, Prune to stimulate growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, fertilize in early summer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Aphids, Dry root rot
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
-
Allergy
-
poisonous if ingested, Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Borders, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
-
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
PACHYPODIUM lamerei
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Madagascar Palm, Club Foot
In Hindi
Chayote
Madagascar palm
In German
Chayote
Madagaskarpalme
In French
Chayote
Pachypodium de Madagascar
In Spanish
Chayote
Palma de Madagascar
In Greek
Chayote
Pachypodium
In Portuguese
chuchu
Palmeirinha-de-madagáscar, Palmeira-de-madagáscar
In Polish
Chayote
Pachypodium
In Latin
chayote
Mandacaru
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Violales
Gentianales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Sechium
pachypodium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Sicyeae
Malouetieae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Apocynoideae
Number of Species
525
1
27800
👆🏻