Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Mexico, Central America
Types
Guzmania lingulata, Guzmania monostachia
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
1207
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Hills, Moist Soils
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
-999910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-3
Sunset Zone
-
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
-
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
50.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
20.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
-
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Indirect sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loamy, Sandy
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Loamy
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Autumn
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Dry soil, Shallow soil
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Container
Ground
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Transplanting
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water
Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loamy, Sandy
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Bright Indirect Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Bacteria wilt, Phytophthora Root Rot, 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
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
-
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Flying insects, Moths
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Rash, Throat itching
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
Making cosmetics, Removes pimples
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Forms dense stands, Prevent Soil Erosion
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Eczema, Laxative
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Application in Handicrafts, Making Shampoo
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
-
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
GUZMANIA
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Guzmania, Torch Bromeliad
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Guzmania lingulata
Chayote
In German
Guzmania lingulata
Chayote
In French
Guzmania lingulata
Chayote
In Spanish
Guzmania lingulata
Chayote
In Greek
Guzmania lingulata
Chayote
In Portuguese
Guzmania lingulata
chuchu
In Polish
Guzmania lingulata
Chayote
In Latin
Guzmania lingulata
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Angiosperms
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Poales
Violales
Family
Bromeliaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Guzmania
Sechium
Clade
Commelinids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Tillandsioideae.
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
65
1
27800
👆🏻