Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Vegetable
Origin
Mexico, Central America
North America, Mexico, Central America
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Winter squash, Field pumpkin, Crookneck pumpkin
Number of Varieties
720
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
close to waterfalls, Riverbanks, Warmer regions, waterways, Wet ground
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-151-6
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm91.44 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm609.60 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Orange Red, Yellow Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Early Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires consistently moist soil, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water in the early morning hours
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove Vines
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 5-10-5 amounts, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Red blotch
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Beetles, Bugs
Allergy
-
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Nasal Congestion, Swelling, Swelling in the face
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Good for skin and hair, Skin cleanser, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Anemia, Antibacterial, anti-cancer, cholesterol-lowering, Fertility, High blood pressure, Immunity, Liver problems, Prevention of convulsion, Regulates Blood Sugar
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Fruits, Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
CUCURBITA pepo 'Wolf'
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Pumpkin
In Hindi
Chayote
कद्दू
In German
Chayote
Kürbis
In French
Chayote
Citrouille
In Spanish
Chayote
Calabaza
In Greek
Chayote
Κολοκύθι
In Portuguese
chuchu
Abóbora
In Polish
Chayote
Dynia
In Latin
chayote
cucurbita
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Violales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Sechium
Cucurbita
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Cucurbiteae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
59
1
27800
👆🏻