Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, Canada
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Northern shagbark hickory, Southern shagbark hickory
Number of Varieties
72
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Woodland Garden Canopy
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
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,830.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
-
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
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
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Leaf spot, Powdery mildew, Trunk Rot, Verticillium Wilt
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
-
Foliage Sheen
Matte
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Mice, Red and Gray Squirrels
Allergy
-
breathing problems, Mouth itching, Sore Throat, Swelling, Throat itching
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Moisturizing
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Analgesic, Antirheumatic
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Sap, Seeds
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as an excellent fuel, Used in pies, cakes, Used to make yellow dye, used to prepare nut milk
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Edible, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
CARYA ovata
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Shagbark Hickory
In Hindi
Chayote
Shagbark Hickory
In German
Chayote
Shagbark Hickory
In French
Chayote
Caryer ovale
In Spanish
Chayote
Shagbark Hickory
In Greek
Chayote
Shagbark Hickory
In Portuguese
chuchu
Shagbark Hickory
In Polish
Chayote
ORZESZNIK PIĘCIOLISTKOWY
In Latin
chayote
Carya
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Juglandales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Juglandaceae
Genus
Sechium
Carya
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Juglandeae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Juglandoideae
Number of Species
519
1
27800
👆🏻