Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southeastern United States, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Coccoloba uvifera
Number of Varieties
710
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Rocky coastal hummocks, sand dunes
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
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
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Red, Purple, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Red, Olive, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Red, Olive
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Red, Olive, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Red, Olive, Bronze
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Round
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Pollution, Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
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, 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 dead branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
6-6-6 or 8-8-8
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Fungal Diseases
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds
Allergy
-
Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Good for skin, Makes Hair Silkier
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Protects from storm-induced erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Jam
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
COCCOLOBA uvifera
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Sea Grape
In Hindi
Chayote
सागर अंगूर
In German
Chayote
Sea Grape
In French
Chayote
Sea Grape
In Spanish
Chayote
Sea Grape
In Greek
Chayote
Sea σταφυλιών
In Portuguese
chuchu
Sea Grape
In Polish
Chayote
Sea Grape
In Latin
chayote
Uva mare
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Caryophyllales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Polygonaceae
Genus
Sechium
Coccoloba
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Sicyeae
Coccolobeae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Eriogonoideae
Number of Species
510
1
27800
👆🏻