Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Origin
Mexico, Central America
North America, Europe, Africa, Asia
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
71
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Alpine Meadows, meadows, Mountains, stream banks
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-154-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm91.40 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm25.40 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Crimson, Pink, Red, Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Several shades of Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Oval
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, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas, Shallow soil
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Cuttings, From bulbs
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Keep the Soil well drained, occasional watering once established
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
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
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Prune after flowering, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Compost, Organic Flower Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Aphids, Bacteria wilt, Pink Root, Red blotch, Root rot
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Shallow soil, Soil Compaction
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Red eyes, Vomiting, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Good Cleanser, Good for the Scalp
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Provides ground cover
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Antibacterial, Antifungal, Anti-oxidant, Eczema, hemorrhoids
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Leaf Stalks, Stem
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
Spigelia marilandica
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Woodland pinkroot, Indian pink
In Hindi
Chayote
pinkroot
In German
Chayote
Spigelia
In French
Chayote
Spigelia
In Spanish
Chayote
Spigelia
In Greek
Chayote
Spigelia
In Portuguese
chuchu
Spigelia
In Polish
Chayote
Spigelia
In Latin
chayote
Spigelia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Gentianales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Loganiceae
Genus
Sechium
Spigelia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
560
1
27800
👆🏻