Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Autumn Flame, October Brilliance, Tiliford
Number of Varieties
7120
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Forests, Wide range of ecological site
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-153-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
9-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Red, Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow, Red, Orange, Yellow green, Gold, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Maple shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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
Average
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Wet Site, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Water Deeply, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
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
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
General garden fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Anthracnose, Bleeding canker, Decline, Fomes root rot, Ganoderma root rot, Laetiporus root rot, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew, Tar spot, Verticillium Wilt
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flowers
Insignificant
Insignificant
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
-
Allergy
-
breathing problems, Eczema, flushing of face, Hives, Low blood pressure, Oral cavity, Rapid Heartbeat, Runny nose, Watery eyes
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Whole plant
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Edible syrup, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
ACER rubrum
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Northern Red Maple, Red Maple
In Hindi
Chayote
लाल मेपल के पेड़
In German
Chayote
Red Maple Tree
In French
Chayote
Red Maple Tree
In Spanish
Chayote
Árbol de arce rojo
In Greek
Chayote
Red Maple Tree
In Portuguese
chuchu
Árvore de bordo vermelho
In Polish
Chayote
Red Maple Tree
In Latin
chayote
Rubrum Maple ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Sapindales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Aceraceae
Genus
Sechium
Acer
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
5128
1
27800
👆🏻