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About Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach


About Malabar Spinach and Cleistocactus


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Perennial  

Type
Cactus  
Vegetable  

Origin
Central America, South America, Brazil  
Southeastern Asia, India  

Types
cleistocactus strausii, cleistocactus winteri, cleistocactus samaipatanus  
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach  

Number of Varieties
15  
99+
5  

Habitat
-  
Hot climate regions, Humid climates  

USDA Hardiness Zone
12-15  
-9999  

AHS Heat Zone
12-10  
12*7  

Sunset Zone
12, 13, 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
Upright/Erect  
Vining/Climbing  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
60.00 cm  
99+
2.40 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
30.00 cm  
99+
24.00 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
Red, Orange, Salmon  
Red, Green, Orange Red  

Flower Color Modifier
-  
Bicolor  

Fruit Color
-  
White, Ivory  

Leaf Color in Spring
-  
Green, Light Green  

Leaf Color in Summer
-  
Green, Dark Green  

Leaf Color in Fall
-  
Purple, Gray Green  

Leaf Color in Winter
-  
Purple, Gray Green  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Succulent  
Heart-shaped  

Thorns
Yes  
No  

Season

Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter  

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Full Sun  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  

Growth Rate
-  
Fast  

Type of Soil
Loam, Sand  
Clay, Loam  

The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  
Neutral  

Soil Drainage
Well drained  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Spring, Summer  
-  

Repeat Bloomer
No  
Yes  

Tolerances
Drought  
Drought  

Care

Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot  
Ground  

How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting  
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings  

Plant Maintenance
Medium  
Medium  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Reduce watering in winter  
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
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline  
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves  

Fertilizers
Fertilize the soil before planting, slow-release fertilizers  
Nitrogen  

Pests and Diseases
Bacterial Stem Rot, fungus, Mealybugs, Spider mites  
Aphids  

Plant Tolerance
Drought  
Drought  

Facts

Flowers
Yes  
Showy  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
Yes  
Yes  

Edible Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrance
  
  

Fragrant Flower
No  
No  

Fragrant Fruit
No  
No  

Fragrant Leaf
No  
No  

Fragrant Bark/Stem
No  
No  

Showy Foliage
No  
Yes  

Showy Bark
No  
No  

Foliage Texture
Bold  
Medium  

Foliage Sheen
-  
Glossy  

Evergreen
No  
Yes  

Invasive
No  
Sometimes  

Self-Sowing
No  
Yes  

Attracts
Hummingbirds  
-  

Allergy
-  
-  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes, Wild gardens  
-  

Beauty Benefits
-  
-  

Edible Uses
No  
Yes  

Environmental Uses
Air purification  
Air purification  

Plant Benefits
  
  

Medicinal Uses
-  
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C  

Part of Plant Used
Whole plant  
Leaves  

Other Uses
Florist trade and landscaping, Used as Ornamental plant  
Used As Food  

Used As Indoor Plant
No  
No  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
CLEISTOCACTUS  
BASELLA alba  

Common Name
Cleistocactus  
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach  

In Hindi
Cleistocactus  
पोई  

In German
Cleistocactus  
Malabarspinat  

In French
Cleistocactus  
L’épinard de Malabar  

In Spanish
Cleistocactus  
espinaca de Malabar  

In Greek
Cleistocactus  
Malabar Σπανάκι  

In Portuguese
Cleistocactus  
Malabar espinafre  

In Polish
Kleistokaktus  
Szpinak Malabar  

In Latin
Cleistocactus  
Spinach Malabar  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Magnoliophyta  
Magnoliophyta  

Class
Magnoliopsida  
Eudicotyledones  

Order
Caryophyllales  
Caryophyllales  

Family
Cactaceae  
Basellaceae  

Genus
Cleistocactus  
Basella  

Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots  

Tribe
Trichocereeae  
-  

Subfamily
Cactoideae  
-  

Number of Species
50  
60  

Summary >>
<< Classification

Properties of Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach

Wondering what are the properties of Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach? We provide you with everything About Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach. Cleistocactus has thorns and Malabar Spinach doesn't have thorns. Also Cleistocactus does not have fragrant flowers. Cleistocactus has allergic reactions like and Malabar Spinach has allergic reactions like . Compare all the properties and characteristics of these two plants. Find out which of these plant can be used as indoor plant. If you are interested to decorate your house and garden, find out aesthetic uses, compare them and select the plant which will beautify your surrounding. Along with beautification, try comparing medicinal and edible uses of Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach and you can choose the plant having best and most benefits.

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Season and Care of Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach

Season and care of Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach is important to know. While considering everything about Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach Care, growing season is an essential factor. Cleistocactus season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Cleistocactus is Loam, Sand and for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam while the PH of soil for Cleistocactus is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Malabar Spinach is Neutral.

Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach Physical Information

Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach physical information is very important for comparison. Cleistocactus height is 60.00 cm and width 30.00 cm whereas Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm. The color specification of Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach are as follows:

Care of Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach

Care of Cleistocactus and Malabar Spinach include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Cleistocactus pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves. In summer Cleistocactus 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.

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