Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
Southeastern Asia, China
Mexico, Central America
Types
Radermachera sinica
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
177
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Clay soil areas, Subtropical forests
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
12-3
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
490.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Gold
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Spores, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow to dry out slightly between watering, Needs 2-3 times watering per week
Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in growing season
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Black rot, Mildew, Root rot, Snails
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Dry soil, Salt and Soil Compaction
Dry Conditions
Flowers
Showy
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
Fine
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Leafminer, Mosquitos
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Abdominal distension, Inflammation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
Glowing Skin, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, soil stabilisation, Very little waste
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Aging, Anti-fungal, Emmoiliant
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Application in Handicrafts, Biomass for fuel
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
RADERMACHERA sinica
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
China Doll
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
चीनी गुड़िया पेड़
Chayote
In German
Zimmeresche
Chayote
In French
china doll
Chayote
In Spanish
china doll
Chayote
In Greek
δέντρο κούκλα Κίνα
Chayote
In Portuguese
china árvore boneca
chuchu
In Polish
China Doll drzewo
Chayote
In Latin
Sinis pupa ligno
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Violales
Family
Bignoniaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Radermachera
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Tecomeae
Sicyeae
Subfamily
-
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
175
1
27800
👆🏻