Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
Turkey, Iraq, Western Asia, India
Mexico, Central America
Types
Tamarix Chinensis, French Tamarisk, Kashgar Tamarix, Tamarix Odessana,
Tamarix Tetrandra
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
507
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Floodplains, marshes, Riverbanks, Shores of rivers or lakes
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-1310-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-3
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Purple
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Scale-like imbricate
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought and Salt, Heat And Humidity
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
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
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut leaves after fall, Prune after flowering, 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
Mineral deficiencies, Red blotch, Root knot nematode, Scale, yellow-poplar weevil
Aphids, Powdery mildew, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry Conditions, Salt
Dry Conditions
Flowers
-
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
Fine
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
allergic reaction
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover, Showy Purposes
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Diarrhea, Liver problems, Rheumatism, Skin wounds, Tooth ache
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Sap, Wood
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Traditional medicine, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Screening / Wind Break
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
TAMARIX dioica
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Dioecious Tamarisk, Tamarisk
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
तामरिस्क
Chayote
In German
Tamariske
Chayote
In French
tamarinier
Chayote
In Spanish
tamarisco
Chayote
In Greek
ταμαρίς
Chayote
In Portuguese
tamarisco
chuchu
In Polish
tamaryszek
Chayote
In Latin
nemore
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Violales
Family
Tamaricaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Tamarix
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Sicyeae
Subfamily
-
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
555
1
27800
👆🏻