Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Broadleaf Evergreen
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Australia
Types
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
-
Number of Varieties
735
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hillside
Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Secondary
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-159-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-3
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
21,22
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm460.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Green
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Linear to lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
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, Fall, Late Winter
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry Conditions
Pollution, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Water regularly for 2 months
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
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Pruning may be required for height clearance
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Does not require fertilizer once established
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
-
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Flying insects
Blowflies, Insects
Allergy
-
Mild Allergen
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
Anodyne, Odontalgic
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Wood
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used as a fodder tree in agricultural areas, Useful for shade
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening, Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier
Botanical Name
SECHIUM edule
GEIJERA parviflora
Common Name
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
Wilga, Native Willow
In Hindi
Chayote
Wilga
In German
Chayote
Pirol
In French
Chayote
loriot
In Spanish
Chayote
oriol
In Greek
Chayote
φλώρος
In Portuguese
chuchu
papa-figos
In Polish
Chayote
Wilga
In Latin
chayote
oriole
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Charophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Equisetopsida
Order
Violales
Sapindales
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Rutaceae
Genus
Sechium
Geijera
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Sicyeae
-
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
-
Number of Species
545
1
27800
👆🏻