Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, Canada
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Arrowwood Viburnum, American Cranberrybush, European Cranberrybush
Number of Varieties
72
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Rocky areas, Stream side, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-152-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm240.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Green, Light Yellow, Pink, Blue Violet, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Red, Purple
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
-
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Spring, Late Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do not water frequently
In Summer
Lots of watering
Ample Water
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut limbs, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
as it is a flowering plant, use high phosphorous content fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Downy mildew, fungus, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Rust
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for birds, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Asthma, Cramps, Diuretic, Fever, Nerve sedative, Palpitation
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Foundation, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
VIBURNUM lentago
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Nannyberry
In Hindi
Chayote
Nannyberry
In German
Chayote
Nannyberry
In French
Chayote
alisier
In Spanish
Chayote
Nannyberry
In Greek
Chayote
Nannyberry
In Portuguese
chuchu
Nannyberry
In Polish
Chayote
Nannyberry
In Latin
chayote
Nannyberry
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Dipsacales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Caprifoliaceae
Genus
Sechium
Viburnum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
550
1
27800
👆🏻