Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Aquatics
Vegetable
Origin
Eastern Europe, Western Asia
Mexico, Central America
Types
Common Cattail, Southern Cattail, Dwarf Bulrush
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
307
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lake margins, Ponds, Swamps
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-3
Sunset Zone
21,22
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Green, Brown, Chocolate
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Light brown, Light Red
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Brown
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long linear and narrow
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Container, In Water
Ground
How to Plant?
Runners
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Plant grows in water
Medium
In Summer
Aquatic Plant
Lots of watering
In Spring
Aquatic Plant
Moderate
In Winter
Aquatic Plant
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in early spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Phosphate
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
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
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Flying insects
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes, Water gardening
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Food for birds, Food for insects, Nesting sites for birds
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Nutrients
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Water Gardens
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
TYPHA minima
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Dwarf Cattail
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
बौना कैटेल
Chayote
In German
Dwarf Rohrkolben
Chayote
In French
Cattail nain
Chayote
In Spanish
Espadaña enano
Chayote
In Greek
Νάνος Cattail
Chayote
In Portuguese
Tifa Dwarf
chuchu
In Polish
Dwarf Ożypałka
Chayote
In Latin
Pumilio Cattail
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poales
Violales
Family
Typhaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Typha
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
-
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
15
1
27800
👆🏻