Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
North America, Mexico, Central America
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
Not Available
  
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Loamy soils, Moist Soils, Subtropical climates
  
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-7
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
  
12*7
  
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 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
Vining/Climbing
  
Vining/Climbing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow, Orange, Dark Green
  
Red, Green, Orange Red
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Yellow, Dark Green
  
White, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
  
Purple, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Purple, Gray Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Palmate
  
Heart-shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, 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
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Cut out old flower stalks, Prune after flowering, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount, Apply 12-12-12 amounts, Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potassium
  
Nitrogen
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Army-worms, Bacteria wilt, Bacterial leaf spot, Blight, Cucumber beetles, Cutworms, Fusarium leaf spot, Red spider mite
  
Aphids
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Full Sun, Salt and Soil Compaction
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
Yes
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Bees, Flies, Flying insects
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Hypoglycaemic Coma, Irregular Heart Rhythm, Miscarriage
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Acne, For treating wrinkles, Improve hair condition, Nourishes scalp, Removes dandruff
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Insect Repellent
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Anti-fungal, Detoxification, Diabetes, Gastrointestinal disorders, Weight loss
  
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
  
Leaves
  
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Repellent, Use in Chinese herbology
  
Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Vine
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
CUCURBITA pepo 'Bicolor Pear'
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
Bicolor Pear Gourd, Ornamental Gourd
  
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
करेला
  
पोई
  
In German
Bittermelone
  
Malabarspinat
  
In French
Momordica charantia
  
L’épinard de Malabar
  
In Spanish
Momordica charantia
  
espinaca de Malabar
  
In Greek
Not Available
  
Malabar Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
Momordica
  
Malabar espinafre
  
In Polish
Przepękla ogórkowata
  
Szpinak Malabar
  
In Latin
Not Available
  
Spinach Malabar
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Spermatophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Eudicotyledones
  
Order
Violales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Cucurbitaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Momordica
  
Basella
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Cucurbitoideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available