Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Canada
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
78
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Deep, Fertile bottom land, Hilly upland habitat, Well Drained
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-156-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
8-6
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,371.60 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Purple, Burgundy, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Yellow, Green, Yellow green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow, Copper, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Oblong
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, 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
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires little pruning
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Magnesium sulphate, Nitrogen, Phosphate, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
-
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
breathing problems, Dizziness, Itchiness, Nausea, Rash, Stomach pain, Swelling
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Good for skin and hair, Skin cleanser
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Malaria, Rheumatism, Urine infections, Vomiting
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Making Shampoo, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Mixed Border, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
ASIMINA triloba
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Pawpaw
In Hindi
Chayote
गंदा संयंत्र
In German
Chayote
Papaya Pflanze
In French
Chayote
usine de papaye
In Spanish
Chayote
planta de la papaya
In Greek
Chayote
φυτό pawpaw
In Portuguese
chuchu
planta mamão
In Polish
Chayote
pawpaw roślin
In Latin
chayote
quince herba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Magnoliales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Annonaceae
Genus
Sechium
Asimina Adans
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
59
1
27800
👆🏻