Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Cherry laurel, California Bay Laurel, Spotted laurel
Number of Varieties
73
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-155-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
9-6
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm460.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Orange Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Yellow green, Tan, Silver
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Yellow green, Tan
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Oval
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Wet Site
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Grafting, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do Not over Water, occasional watering once established
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune for shortening long shoots, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Beetles, Fusarium wilt, Rust, Scab
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health, treating poison ivy
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Stem
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Florist trade and landscaping, Making Perfumes, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Foundation, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
Laurus nobilis
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Sweetbay
In Hindi
Chayote
Laurus nobilis
In German
Chayote
Echter Lorbeer
In French
Chayote
Laurus nobilis
In Spanish
Chayote
Laurus nobilis
In Greek
Chayote
Laurus nobilis
In Portuguese
chuchu
Loureiro
In Polish
Chayote
Wawrzyn szlachetny
In Latin
chayote
Laurus nobilis
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Laurales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Magnoliaceae
Genus
Sechium
Laurus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Sicyeae
Epidendreae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Epidendroideae
Number of Species
53
1
27800
👆🏻