Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Shrub
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Cestrum nocturnum
Number of Varieties
75
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Warm and moist climatic conditions
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
13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm120.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White, Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green
-
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
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Stem Cutting, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Requires regular 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
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
Prune in the growing season, Prune to half of its height, Remove dead branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, light feeding and water solubles
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Aphids, Black spots, Caterpillars, Foliar disease, Sap-Sucking Insects, White spots
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Asthma, Respiratory problems
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Cottage Garden, 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
Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Aphrodisiac, Conjuctivitis, Fever, Immunity, Urine infections, Used as a sedative
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Flowers
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc.
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
CESTRUM nocturnum
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
night-blooming jasmine, night-blooming cestrum, lady of the night, queen of the night, night-blooming jessamine
In Hindi
Chayote
रातरानी
In German
Chayote
Nachtjasmin
In French
Chayote
jasmin de nuit
In Spanish
Chayote
dama de noche
In Greek
Chayote
νύχτα γιασεμιά
In Portuguese
chuchu
jasmim-da-noite
In Polish
Chayote
noc kwitnący jaśmin
In Latin
chayote
nox Aenean virent
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Solanales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Solanaceae
Genus
Sechium
Cestrum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
5200
1
27800
👆🏻