Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas
Mexico, Central America
Types
Aralia spinosa
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
17
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden Secondary
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-1
12-3
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Thicket/Colonizing
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
300.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Green, Ivory
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Purple, Black
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Green, Purple, Blue Green, Dark Green, Yellow green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
bipinnate
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Divison, Seedlings
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs high amount of water
Medium
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Leaf spot, Mealybugs
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
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
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Butterflies, Insects
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Woodland margins
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Alterative, Analgesic, Diaphoretic, Opthalmic
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves, Root
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Used as a potherb
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
ARALIA spinosa
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
American Angelica Tree, Devil's Walking Stick, Hercules' Club
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Devil's Walking Stick
Chayote
In German
Teufelsspazierstock
Chayote
In French
Walking bâton du diable
Chayote
In Spanish
Bastón del Diablo
Chayote
In Greek
Περπάτημα Stick διαβόλου
Chayote
In Portuguese
Vara andando de diabo
chuchu
In Polish
Diabelski laska
Chayote
In Latin
Virgam diaboli
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Apiales
Violales
Family
Araliaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Aralia
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Aralioideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
305
1
27800
👆🏻