Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
Latin America and the Caribbean
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Heliconiaceae
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Habitat
Humid climates, Warmer regions
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
-9999
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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
Thicket/Colonizing
Vining/Climbing
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Orange Red
Red, Green, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Orange
White, Ivory
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Shape
Ovate
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
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
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?
From Rhizomes, Micropropagation
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
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
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
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize every two months
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red blotch, Soft scales
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
Salt
Drought
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Attracts
Hummingbirds, Insects
-
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
-
Environmental Uses
Food for birds
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Healing
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Root, Seeds
Leaves
Other Uses
Florist trade and landscaping
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Tropical
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
HELICONIA psittacorum 'Lady Di'
BASELLA alba
Common Name
Heliconia, Lady Di Heliconia, Parakeet Flower
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
In German
Heliconia
Malabarspinat
In French
Heliconia
L’épinard de Malabar
In Spanish
Heliconia
espinaca de Malabar
In Greek
Heliconia
Malabar Σπανάκι
In Portuguese
Heliconia
Malabar espinafre
In Polish
Heliconia
Szpinak Malabar
In Latin
Heliconia
Spinach Malabar
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Zingiberales
Caryophyllales
Family
Heliconiaceae
Basellaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Season and Care of Heliconia and Malabar Spinach
Season and care of Heliconia and Malabar Spinach is important to know. While considering everything about Heliconia and Malabar Spinach Care, growing season is an essential factor. Heliconia season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Heliconia is Loam, Sand and for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam while the PH of soil for Heliconia is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Malabar Spinach is Neutral.
Heliconia and Malabar Spinach Physical Information
Heliconia and Malabar Spinach physical information is very important for comparison. Heliconia height is 60.00 cm and width 150.00 cm whereas Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm. The color specification of Heliconia and Malabar Spinach are as follows:
Heliconia flower color: White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange and Orange Red
Heliconia leaf color: Green
Malabar Spinach flower color: Red, Green and Orange Red
- Malabar Spinach leaf color: Green and Light Green
Care of Heliconia and Malabar Spinach
Care of Heliconia and Malabar Spinach include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Heliconia pruning is done Cut or pinch the stems, 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 Heliconia 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.