Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Mexico, Central America
Types
Cuphea hyssopifolia
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Habitat
Tropical areas
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
10-15
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Vining/Climbing
Flower Color
White, Pink, Light Pink, Lavender, Violet
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Leaf Shape
Oblong to lance-shaped
Irregular
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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
Indeterminate
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Tolerances
Drought
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Divison, Layering, Seedlings
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Needs watering once a week, Requires more often in extreme heat
Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
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, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
-
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Dry Conditions
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
Butterflies
Bees, Flying insects
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Ground Cover
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Dysentry, Eye Infection, Indigestion, Organ Stones
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowering Tips, Flowers, Leaves, Shoots, Stem
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Showy Purposes
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
CUPHEA hyssopifolia
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
False Heather, Mexican Heather, Hawaiian Heather
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Mexican Heather
Chayote
In German
Mexican Heather
Chayote
In French
Mexicaine Heather
Chayote
In Spanish
Heather mexicana
Chayote
In Greek
Μεξικού Heather
Chayote
In Portuguese
Mexican Heather
chuchu
In Polish
Mexican Heather
Chayote
In Latin
Mexicanus Heather
chayote
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Lythraceae
Cucurbitaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
Lythroideae
Cucurbitoideae
Importance of Mexican Heather and Chayote
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Mexican Heather and Chayote. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Mexican Heather and Chayote as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Mexican Heather is Dysentry, Eye Infection, Indigestion and Organ Stones whereas of Chayote is Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation and Thyroid problems. Mexican Heather has beauty benefits as follows: while Chayote has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Mexican Heather vs Chayote
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Mexican Heather vs Chayote and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Mexican Heather are whereas of Chayote have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Mexican Heather has no showy fruits and Chayote has no showy fruits. Also Mexican Heather is not flowering and Chayote is not flowering . You can compare Mexican Heather and Chayote facts and facts of other plants too.