Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
Southeastern United States, Caribbean, Central America, South America
Mexico, Central America
Types
Coccoloba uvifera
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
107
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Rocky coastal hummocks, sand dunes
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-1510-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-3
Sunset Zone
H2, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Purple, Yellow green
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Red, Olive, Bronze
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Red, Olive
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Red, Olive, Bronze
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Olive, Bronze
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Round
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
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
Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
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
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 dead branches
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
6-6-6 or 8-8-8
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Fungal Diseases
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Dry Conditions
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Birds
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Pollen
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Makes Hair Silkier
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Protects from storm-induced erosion
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Febrifuge, Tonic
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Jam
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
COCCOLOBA uvifera
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Sea Grape
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
सागर अंगूर
Chayote
In German
Sea Grape
Chayote
In French
Sea Grape
Chayote
In Spanish
Sea Grape
Chayote
In Greek
Sea σταφυλιών
Chayote
In Portuguese
Sea Grape
chuchu
In Polish
Sea Grape
Chayote
In Latin
Uva mare
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Violales
Family
Polygonaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Coccoloba
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Coccolobeae
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Eriogonoideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
105
1
27800
👆🏻