Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
South America, Brazil
Mexico, Central America
Types
-
Sechium edule, Mirliton, Vegetable Pear
Number of Varieties
157
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Canyons, gardens, Grassland, Rainforest, Shaded sites
Hillside
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1310-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-3
Sunset Zone
H2, 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
240.00 cm610.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
180.00 cm25.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Red
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green, Light Yellow, Ivory
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Palmate
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Summer, Fall
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Dry Conditions
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Stem Planting
Seedlings, vegetative cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Reduce watering in winter, Requires watering in the growing season
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
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads, Shape and thin as needed
Remove damaged fruit, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize before watering, fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Mites, Red blotch, Scale, Thripes, Whiteflies
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
Coarse
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Bees, Flying insects
Allergy
-
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Farmland
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cancer
Acne, Anti-oxidant, constipation, Thyroid problems
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Fruits, Leaves, Root, Stem
Other Uses
Animal Feed, Culinary use, Used as Biofuel, Used in making beverages
Culinary use, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Tropical
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
MANIHOT esculenta 'Variegata'
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Variegated Cassava, Variegated Tapioca
Chayote, Choko, christophene, christophine, cho-cho, pipinola
In Hindi
Variegated Cassava
Chayote
In German
Verändertes Cassava
Chayote
In French
panaché manioc
Chayote
In Spanish
abigarrado Yuca
Chayote
In Greek
Κυμαίνεται Cassava
Chayote
In Portuguese
variegated de mandioca
chuchu
In Polish
Kolorowy Maniok
Chayote
In Latin
variegated Cassava
chayote
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Magnoliophyta
Class
-
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malpighiales
Violales
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Manihot
Sechium
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Manihoteae
Sicyeae
Subfamily
Crotonoideae
Cucurbitoideae
Number of Species
1095
1
27800
👆🏻