Also known as vegetable pear, mirliton, choko, and custard marrow, chayote plants are native to Latin America, specifically southern Mexico and Guatemala. Growing chayote has been cultivated since pre-Columbian times.

Does chayote grow on a tree?

Chayotes are easy to grow; you plant the entire fruit 4 inches deep in compost-like soil, near a fence, trees or trellis where the vines can climb. In general chayote will grow in a wide range of soils, but it prefers a sunny location with good drainage.

Is there chayote in the US?

Chayote is grown in the US in several states including California, Florida, and Louisiana, and throughout South and East Asia, where they are harvested much larger than in the Americas, but it is native to Latin America. Historically, this squash was one of the primary foods of the Aztecs and Mayas.