Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Cactus
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southern Africa
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Firesticks, Old Man's Beard
Number of Varieties
72
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Desert, Hilly upland habitat, Semi desert
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-10
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm610.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green
Red, Red orange
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Red, Light Green, Orange Red
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Tiny
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Pollution, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Needs good drainage, Water less during winter, Water more in summer
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, 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
Insignificant
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
-
Allergy
-
Eye irritation, Numb Lips
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Mixed Border, Ornamental use, 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
Antiasthamatic, anti-cancer, Antitumor, Cough, Ear ache
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Branch, Latex, Root
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as firewood, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Feature Plant, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
EUPHORBIA tirucalli
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
aveloz, firestick plants, Indian tree spurge, naked lady, pencil tree, pencil cactus, sticks on fire, milk bush, Euphorbia tirucalli
In Hindi
Chayote
Sher-kandvel
In German
Chayote
Bleistiftstrauch
In French
Chayote
Aveloz
In Spanish
Chayote
Pencil Plant
In Greek
Chayote
Aveloz
In Portuguese
chuchu
avelós
In Polish
Chayote
Aveloz
In Latin
chayote
Aveloz
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Euphorbiales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Sechium
Euphorbia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Euphorbieae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Euphorbioideae
Number of Species
51
1
27800
👆🏻