Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Perennial
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
-9999
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Vining/Climbing
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Red, Green, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
White, Ivory
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Heart-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
-
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
In Summer
Lots of watering
Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
-
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Root
Leaves
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
BASELLA alba
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
In Hindi
African Iris
पोई
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Malabarspinat
In French
African Iris
L’épinard de Malabar
In Spanish
Iris africano
espinaca de Malabar
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Malabar Σπανάκι
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Malabar espinafre
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Szpinak Malabar
In Latin
African Iris
Spinach Malabar
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Asparagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Iridaceae
Basellaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Season and Care of African Iris and Malabar Spinach
Season and care of African Iris and Malabar Spinach is important to know. While considering everything about African Iris and Malabar Spinach Care, growing season is an essential factor. African Iris season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for African Iris is Clay, Loam, Sand and for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam while the PH of soil for African Iris is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Malabar Spinach is Neutral.
African Iris and Malabar Spinach Physical Information
African Iris and Malabar Spinach physical information is very important for comparison. African Iris height is 61.30 cm and width 30.50 cm whereas Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm. The color specification of African Iris and Malabar Spinach are as follows:
African Iris flower color: Yellow, Light Yellow and Brown
African Iris leaf color: Green and Gray Green
Malabar Spinach flower color: Red, Green and Orange Red
- Malabar Spinach leaf color: Green and Light Green
Care of African Iris and Malabar Spinach
Care of African Iris and Malabar Spinach include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. African Iris pruning is done Remove dead leaves and Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves. In summer African Iris needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Malabar Spinach needs Average Water and in winter, it needs Average Water.