Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
-
Mexico, Central America
Types
Flowering Plants, Fruits, Herbs
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
10007
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Subtropical climates, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-3
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Purple, Brown
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Light Green
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
Oblanceolate , Ovate
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water every two or three days during warmer months
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
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial 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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Dry Conditions
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
-
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
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Insects
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Anaphylaxis
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-cancer, Asthma, Diarrhea, Improve heart health, increase memory, lowering blood pressure, Potassium
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, Root, Sap
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Fine spines and trichomes are used as fiber for weaving, Leaves used for wrapping food, Pulp can be used to make rope place mats and other goods
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
Musa acuminata × Musa balbisiana
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Banana, Hybrid Banana, Saba Banana
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Saba kela
Chayote
In German
saba Banane
Chayote
In French
saba banane
Chayote
In Spanish
saba plátano
Chayote
In Greek
saba banana
Chayote
In Portuguese
saba de banana
chuchu
In Polish
saba banana
Chayote
In Latin
Saba Musa sapientum fixa
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Violales
Family
Musaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
-
Sechium
Clade
-
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
-
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
705
1
27800
👆🏻