Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
Eastern Africa, Middle Africa
Mexico, Central America
Types
Kigelia africana
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
97
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Riverine forest, wooded grassland
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1210-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-3
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
910.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Dark Red, Tan
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Tan
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full 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
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs a lot of water initially
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
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
Balanced liquid fertilizer monthly
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Leaf spot, Mealybugs, Rust
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Dry Conditions
Flowers
Showy
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
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Poisonous when unripe
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Slow downs aging
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Gynaecological, Malaria, STDs
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Dried seeds, Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Used to flavour beer, Used to produce a red dye
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
KIGELIA africana
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Sausage Tree
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Sausage Tree
Chayote
In German
Sausage Tree
Chayote
In French
saucisse Arbre
Chayote
In Spanish
Árbol de salchicha
Chayote
In Greek
λουκάνικο δέντρο
Chayote
In Portuguese
Árvore de salsicha
chuchu
In Polish
kiełbasa Drzewo
Chayote
In Latin
farciminis ligno
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Violales
Family
Bignoniaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Kaempferia
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Tecomeae
Sicyeae
Subfamily
-
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
95
1
27800
👆🏻