Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
United States, Central United States
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Deciduous Tree
Number of Varieties
7334
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-155-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
8-4
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
Spreading
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
Yellow green, Chartreuse
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Chocolate
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Gray Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Yellow, Tan, Brown
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
oblong or obovate
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
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Pollution, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Average Water Needs, Water during dry weather
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
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
Phosphorous
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Anthracnose, Sunken patches
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds
Allergy
-
Severe allergen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Antiseptic, Astringent, Emetic, Febrifuge, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Seeds
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Roasted seed is used as a coffee substitute, Used as a thickening in stews, Wood is used for making furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
QUERCUS imbricaria
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Shingle Oak
In Hindi
Chayote
Shingle Oak
In German
Chayote
Kies Eiche
In French
Chayote
Shingle Oak
In Spanish
Chayote
teja de madera de roble
In Greek
Chayote
βότσαλα Oak
In Portuguese
chuchu
Shingle Oak
In Polish
Chayote
gont Oak
In Latin
chayote
Quercus imbricaria
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Fagales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Fagaceae
Genus
Sechium
Quercus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Fagoideae
Number of Species
58
1
27800
👆🏻