Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
Europe, Russia
Mexico, Central America
Types
Primula elatior
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
17
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Roadsides, sand dunes, Waste areas
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-710-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-1
12-3
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Rosette/Stemless
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Yellow
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblong
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
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 Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water more in summer
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, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in growing season
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Slugs, Snails
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Variety of soil types
Dry Conditions
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Fine
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Insects
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Abdominal pain, Constipation, Diarrhea, Skin irritation
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Borders, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Making cosmetics, Stops hair loss
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects, Versatility
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Eczema
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Root
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Medicinal oil, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edging, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
Primula elatior
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Oxlip, true oxlip
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Oxlip
Chayote
In German
Hohe Schlüsselblume
Chayote
In French
La Primevère élevée ou Primevère des bois
Chayote
In Spanish
Primula elatior
Chayote
In Greek
δακράκι
Chayote
In Portuguese
Oxlip
chuchu
In Polish
Oxlip
Chayote
In Latin
Oxlip
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Myrtales
Violales
Family
Onagraceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Oenothera
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Onagreae
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Onagroideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
1455
1
27800
👆🏻