Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Cactus or Succulent, Tree
Vegetable
Origin
Southwestern United States, Mexico
Mexico, Central America
Types
-
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
407
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Dry areas, Rocky areas, Sandy areas
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
6-1010-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-7
12-3
Sunset Zone
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
300.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive, Gray Green, Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Slow
Fast
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
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Do not water frequently
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
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full 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, No fertilizers needed
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Brown Spots, Red blotch
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry Conditions, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance, Rocky Soil, Sun
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
Bold
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Decorating walls
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
-
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
-
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Rock Garden, Wall
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
YUCCA brevifolia
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
yucca palm
tree yucca
palm tree yucca
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Joshua Tree
Chayote
In German
Joshua Tree
Chayote
In French
Joshua Tree
Chayote
In Spanish
Árbol de Joshua
Chayote
In Greek
Joshua Tree
Chayote
In Portuguese
Joshua Tree
chuchu
In Polish
Joshua Tree
Chayote
In Latin
Joshua ligno
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Violales
Family
Agavaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Yucca
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
-
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
505
1
27800
👆🏻