Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico, Central America
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Arbutus xalapensis
Number of Varieties
710
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
limestone outcrops, Open Plains
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-157-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
-
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/Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm640.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm795.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green
Red, Orange
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Blue Green, Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Elliptic and Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Do not water frequently
In Summer
Lots of watering
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
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
Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
-
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
-
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought
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
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Birds
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for birds, Shelter for wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Fruits, Wood
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used for making wheel hubs, tool handles, Used for woodware
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Edible, Feature Plant
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
ARBUTUS xalapensis
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Lady's Leg, Manzanita, Texas Madrone
In Hindi
Chayote
Texas Madrone
In German
Chayote
Texas Madrone
In French
Chayote
Texas Madrone
In Spanish
Chayote
Arbutus xalapensis
In Greek
Chayote
Texas Madrone
In Portuguese
chuchu
Texas Madrone
In Polish
Chayote
Texas Madrone
In Latin
chayote
Texas Madrone
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Violales
Ericales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Ericaceae
Genus
Sechium
Arbutus
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
51
1
27800
👆🏻