Family: Cucurbitaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Sechium edule, commonly known as chayote, cho cho, vegetable pear, or pipinella, is a vigorous climbing vine in the gourd family native to Mexico and Belize. It produces pear-shaped fruits, edible shoots, tendrils, roots, and leaves, making it a valuable food crop throughout tropical and subtropical regions. In Hawaiʻi, chayote has long been cultivated in home gardens for its fruits and tender stem tips, which are commonly steamed and eaten as a vegetable. The species was probably introduced to Hawaiʻi by the early 1930s and remains a familiar garden plant across the islands.

Risks & Threats
Chayote is now sparingly naturalized in Hawaiʻi, where it is occasionally found growing near sites of habitation at lower elevations on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi Island. This species possesses traits that are cause for concern, including rapid growth, vigorous climbing habits, and the ability to spread beyond cultivation. Dense vines can smother surrounding vegetation, compete with native plants for sunlight and space, and alter habitat structure. Because it is already naturalized and has the potential to detrimentally impact tropical island ecosystems, caution is warranted when planting or managing this species. Where possible, low-risk or native alternatives should be selected. In areas where chayote is already established, gardeners and land managers are encouraged to prevent its spread into natural areas and avoid introducing it to locations where it is not yet widely established.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized in Hawaii, Réunion, and Mauritius
  
• Naturalized on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, and Hawaiʻi
  
• Environmental weed in Brazil (Atlantic forests)
  
• Disturbance weed in urban Brazil
  
• Smothering vine/climber
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Has underground tubers (geophyte)
  
• Self-compatible (can reproduce alone)
  
• Fruits within 3–5 months
  
• Widely cultivated and spread by humans
  
• Possibly dispersed by fruit-eating bats

Low Risk Traits:

• Domesticated crop
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Palatable and non-toxic to animals and humans
  
• Low seed output (one seed per fruit)
  
• No persistent seed bank (seeds germinate immediately)