Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tender Perennial
Origin
Mexico, Central America
South America, Brazil
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
715
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Canyons, gardens, Grassland, Rainforest, Shaded sites
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-158-13
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm240.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm180.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White, Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Dark Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Dark Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Palmate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
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, Summer, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Reduce watering in winter, Requires watering in the growing season
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, 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 if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads, Shape and thin as needed
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize before watering, fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Mites, Red blotch, Scale, Thripes, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Dry Conditions
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Insignificant
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
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Cancer
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Whole plant
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Animal Feed, Culinary use, Used as Biofuel, Used in making beverages
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
MANIHOT esculenta 'Variegata'
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Variegated Cassava, Variegated Tapioca
In Hindi
Chayote
Variegated Cassava
In German
Chayote
Verändertes Cassava
In French
Chayote
panaché manioc
In Spanish
Chayote
abigarrado Yuca
In Greek
Chayote
Κυμαίνεται Cassava
In Portuguese
chuchu
variegated de mandioca
In Polish
Chayote
Kolorowy Maniok
In Latin
chayote
variegated Cassava
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Violales
Malpighiales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Sechium
Manihot
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
Manihoteae
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
5109
1
27800
👆🏻