Chikorita is a small Pokémon, primarily pale green in color, with a darker green leaf and necklace of buds. It has a large head in proportion to the rest of its body, with large red eyes that appear to have no pupils. It has four short legs with a single nailed toe each, and a small tail. Its most distinguishing feature is the large leaf on the top of its head, which is usually longer than the rest of its body. It has a "necklace" of small green buds around its neck.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Chikorita can spawn vines from its neck and create leaves from the big leaf on its head. Like many Grass-type Pokémon, its foliage emits a sweet odor that has calming and healing properties. This leaf also has the ability to check the temperature and humidity of the surrounding air.
Behavior
Chikorita, like many Grass-type Pokémon, are very docile. It prefers to avoid fights by using the aromatherapeutic properties of the large leaf on its head. It spends most of its time sunbathing, although it is unclear if this is because it needs to photosynthesize, or if it is because Chikorita is cold blooded and needs to warm itself up. It appears to be sensitive to changes in its environment, and can use the leaf on its head to help purify the air around it, as well as to seek out warm places. Chikorita are also sensitive emotionally, and become very upset when misunderstood.
Chikorita are rare Pokémon mostly found in large open plains or small forests with other Chikorita, Bayleef, and Meganium. They prefer warmer climates.
Ash captured a Chikorita in The Chikorita Rescue. It had such high affections for Ash that sometimes came to a few faults, such as refusing to be switched out for Pikachu. Ash's Chikorita evolved in Current Events.
Silver also owns a Chikorita, as seen in The Search for the Legend. It behaves much in the same way to him as Pikachu does to Ash, including traveling on his shoulder.
Chikorita, the Leaf Pokémon. Chikorita uses the leaf on its head to scan for warmth and humidity in its surroundings, and loves to sunbathe.
In the manga
In Pokémon Adventures, Chikorita is the last of the three starter Pokémon to get a trainer (in an interestingly similar fashion to Treecko never getting its rightful trainer until Emerald steals him as a Sceptile, much later than the other two starters had). It escapes from Professor Elm and follows Crystal until she decides to accept it to her team, where it had to pass a test. Crystal's Chikorita wears a star pendant, formerly owned by Smoochum, who accepted Chikorita when its trainer did. It later evolves into a Bayleef to protect Crys from a Larvitar, then into Meganium during a fight with Lugia along with the other two Johto starters (whose trainers had been in a coma for weeks from their defeat against the Masked Man). Crys nicknamed it Megapon.
When released from a Poké Ball, Chikorita unleashes a Razor Leaf that hits any opponent in its path.
Chikorita is also a Pokéfloat. It is one of the smallest and floats around Psyduck.
Trophy information
Chikorita was one of the first three Pokémon available in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal. A Grass-type Pokémon, it emits a delightful fragrance from the leaves on its head and loves to spend its time leisurely sunbathing. When called into battle, it uses its Razor Leaf move to strike at opponents' weak points.
Chikorita returns to do the same as it did in Melee, unleashing Razor Leaf on release from a Poké Ball. It swings its leaf around violently until the green blades fly directly in front of it for a few seconds.
Trophy information
A Leaf Pokémon. It loves sunbathing and can use the leaf on its head to check the temperature and humidity around it. Chikorita releases a sweet aroma from its leaf to becalm opponents into a slumber. It can also learn moves to help recover all Pokémon allies. Chikorita evolves into Bayleef by leveling up.
Game data
NPC appearances
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire: When the ball hits the button in front of Chikorita on the Ruby Field, it will unleash a Razor Leaf that causes the two Linoone to pop out.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation II.
In battle, Chikorita waves its leaf around to keep the foe at bay. However, a sweet fragrance also wafts from the leaf, becalming the battling Pokémon and creating a cozy, friendly atmosphere all around.
It waves its leaf around to keep foes at bay. However, a sweet fragrance also wafts from the leaf, creating a friendly atmosphere that becalms the battlers.
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The Chikorita family is the only evolution family of a starter Pokémon to not have their names changed for the English release.
In the anime, Chikorita has had the most Trainers out of the Johto starters. It has been trained by Ash, Casey, Vincent, Silver, and Lyra. However, Ash is the only one who is confirmed to not have received Chikorita as a starter.
Chikorita is the tallest out of the unevolved starters at 2 feet 11 inches (0.9 meters).
Due to this, it is the only starter Pokémon from Generations I-III that cannot be used in the Pokémon Jump minigame.
Chikorita is one of three Pokémon (four species total) that have a gender ratio of 7:1 that have had a female shown in the anime but not a male. The others are Ash's Bayleef, Togepi and Togekiss.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
For other sprites and images, please see Chikorita images on Bulbagarden Archives.
