Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Flowering Plants
  
Origin
Mexico, Central America
  
Northern Africa, Morocco
  
Types
Not available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Hillside
  
gardens, Grassland, Roadsides, tropical environments
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
6-8
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
  
8-4
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Light Green
  
Orange
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Light Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Irregular
  
Egg-shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
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
  
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Medium
  
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Water Deeply
  
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
  
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
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects, Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Culinary use, Employed in herbal medicine, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Alpine, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
  
PAPAVER atlanticum
  
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
  
Atlas Poppy, Moroccan Poppy
  
In Hindi
Chayote
  
मोरक्को के पोस्ता
  
In German
Chayote
  
marokkanische Poppy
  
In French
Chayote
  
Poppy marocaine
  
In Spanish
Chayote
  
marroquí amapola
  
In Greek
Chayote
  
μαροκινή παπαρούνας
  
In Portuguese
chuchu
  
Moroccan Poppy
  
In Polish
Chayote
  
marokański Poppy
  
In Latin
chayote
  
Moroccan Poppy
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Violales
  
Ranunculales
  
Family
Cucurbitaceae
  
Papaveraceae
  
Genus
Sechium
  
Papaver
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Sicyeae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
  
Paperveroideae