Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
North America, Europe, Africa, Asia
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
73
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
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14
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
Chartreuse
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Orange, Gold, Copper, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Star Shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Early Spring
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, 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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, 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
Prune back the growing tips
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Anthracnose, 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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds
Allergy
-
Mild Allergen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Beautification
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Erosion control
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Antispasmodic, Astringent, Opthalmic
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Inner Bark, Leaves, Sap, Seeds
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as a preservative, Used for making black and brown dye, Used to make baskets, Used to make sweetener
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
ACER saccharinum
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Silver Maple
In Hindi
Chayote
Silver Maple
In German
Chayote
Silver Maple
In French
Chayote
érable argenté
In Spanish
Chayote
arce plateado
In Greek
Chayote
Silver Maple
In Portuguese
chuchu
plátano de prata
In Polish
Chayote
Silver Maple
In Latin
chayote
Acer
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
Acereae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Hippocastanoideae
Number of Species
5128
1
27800
👆🏻