Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Vegetable
Origin
-
Mexico, Central America
Types
Calycanthus floridus floridus, Calycanthus floridus glaucus
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
27
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
shaded woods, Woodlands
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-810-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-4
12-3
Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Spreading
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
240.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Yellow, Violet
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Light Yellow, Gold
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Lobed
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Shade areas
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Divison, Seedlings, Suckers
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, 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 flowers, 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
Bacterial Gall, Powdery mildew
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Shade areas
Dry Conditions
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Semi-Double
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
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Insects
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
Toxic if not prepared properly
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antispasmodic, Cardiac, Disinfectant, Diuretic
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Root
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Culinary use, Disinfectant, Repellent
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
Calycanthus floridus
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Sweetshrub
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
sweetshrub
Chayote
In German
sweetshrub
Chayote
In French
sweetshrub
Chayote
In Spanish
sweetshrub
Chayote
In Greek
sweetshrub
Chayote
In Portuguese
sweetshrub
chuchu
In Polish
sweetshrub
Chayote
In Latin
sweetshrub
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Laurales
Violales
Family
Calycanthaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Calycanthus
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
-
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
45
1
27800
👆🏻