Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada
Mexico, Central America
Types
-
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
37
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-1
12-3
Sunset Zone
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
Oval or Rounded
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,520.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,220.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green, Chartreuse
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Indigo, Black
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Red, Orange, Yellow green, Bronze, Orange Red
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
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
Clay, 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
Nitrogen, Phosphorous
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Foliage diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Dry Conditions
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Insects
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Dermatitis, Diaphoresis
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
Skin Problems
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Alterative, Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Used as a condiment, Used in making tea, Used to flavour soups
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
SASSAFRAS albidum
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Sassafras
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Sassafras
Chayote
In German
Sassafras
Chayote
In French
Sassafras
Chayote
In Spanish
Sasafrás
Chayote
In Greek
σασάφρα
Chayote
In Portuguese
sassafrás
chuchu
In Polish
Sassafras
Chayote
In Latin
Sassafras
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Laurales
Violales
Family
Lauraceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Sassafras
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Cinnamomeae
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Lauroideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
45
1
27800
👆🏻