Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Perennial
Type
Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
United States, Northwestern United States, California
Mexico, Central America
Types
Phlox adsurgens, Phlox alyssifolia, Phlox amabilis
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
1367
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Moist Soils, Wet ground, Wet lands
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-710-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-5
12-3
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
243.84 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
91.44 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Light Blue, Pink, Red, White
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, 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
Gray Green, Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water more in summer, Water when soil is dry
Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
-
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
-
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
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Caterpillar, Flying insects, Insects
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
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
Alpine, Container, Cutflower, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
PHLOX douglasii
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Douglas Moss Phlox, Phlox
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Phlox plant
Chayote
In German
Phlox Pflanze
Chayote
In French
plante Phlox
Chayote
In Spanish
planta de Phlox
Chayote
In Greek
φυτό phlox
Chayote
In Portuguese
planta Phlox
chuchu
In Polish
Phlox roślin
Chayote
In Latin
plantae Phlox
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Ericales
Violales
Family
Polemoniaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Phlox
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
-
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
675
1
27800
👆🏻