Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tender Perennial
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Mexico, Central America
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
750
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
agricultural areas, Loamy soils, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Spreading
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm30.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
Fuchsia
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Oval Cordate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Dry Conditions, Soil Compaction, Sun
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do not let dry out between waterings, Do not water the foliage
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
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Fertilize every three months
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Bacteria, Birds, Fungal Diseases, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Dry Conditions, Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Beetles, Bugs, Insects
Allergy
-
Acidic, allergic conjunctivitis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Beautification, Hanging Basket, Landscape Designing
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
Makes Hair Silkier, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Forms dense stands, Provides ground cover, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Leaves, Stem
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Air freshner, Cosmetics, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Bedding Plant, Container, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
HETEROCENTRON elegans
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Spanish Shawl
In Hindi
Chayote
Heterocentron
In German
Chayote
Heterocentron
In French
Chayote
Heterocentron
In Spanish
Chayote
Heterocentron
In Greek
Chayote
Heterocentron
In Portuguese
chuchu
Heterocentron
In Polish
Chayote
Heterocentron
In Latin
chayote
Heterocentron
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Myrtales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Melastomataceae
Genus
Sechium
Heterocentron
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Sicyeae
Abreae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
5200
1
27800
👆🏻