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About Laelia and Malabar Spinach


About Malabar Spinach and Laelia


What is

Life Span
Perennial  
Perennial  

Type
Epiphyte  
Vegetable  

Origin
Mexico  
Southeastern Asia, India  

Types
Laelia candida, Laelia discolor  
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach  

Number of Varieties
25  
99+
5  

Habitat
shaded riverbanks, Subtropical climates  
Hot climate regions, Humid climates  

USDA Hardiness Zone
9-11  
-9999  

AHS Heat Zone
12-8  
12*7  

Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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  

Information

Plant Size
  
  

Minimum Height
45.70 cm  
99+
2.40 cm  
99+

Minimum Width
45.70 cm  
99+
24.00 cm  
99+

Plant Color
  
  

Flower Color
White, Light Pink, Lavender  
Red, Green, Orange Red  

Flower Color Modifier
-  
Bicolor  

Fruit Color
Dark Blue  
White, Ivory  

Leaf Color in Spring
Green  
Green, Light Green  

Leaf Color in Summer
Green  
Green, Dark Green  

Leaf Color in Fall
Green  
Purple, Gray Green  

Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green  
Purple, Gray Green  

Shape
  
  

Leaf Shape
Acicular  
Heart-shaped  

Thorns
No  
No  

Season

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

Growing Conditions
  
  

Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  

Growth Rate
Slow  
Fast  

Type of Soil
-  
Clay, Loam  

The pH of Soil
-  
Neutral  

Soil Drainage
Well drained  
Well drained  

Bloom Time
Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter, Winter  
-  

Repeat Bloomer
No  
Yes  

Tolerances
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction  
Drought  

Care

Where to Plant?
Container, Ground  
Ground  

How to Plant?
Divison  
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings  

Plant Maintenance
Low  
Medium  

Watering Plants
  
  

Watering Requirements
Needs watering once a week  
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
Slightly Acidic  
Neutral  

Soil Type
Well-aerated  
Clay, Loam  

Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained  
Well drained  

Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade  

Pruning
Remove lateral branches  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves  

Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount, Use nitrogen rich soil  
Nitrogen  

Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Bacterial leaf spot, Fusarium wilt  
Aphids  

Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Salt and Soil Compaction  
Drought  

Facts

Flowers
Showy  
Showy  

Flower Petal Number
Single  
Single  

Fruits
  
  

Showy Fruit
No  
Yes  

Edible Fruit
No  
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
No  
Yes  

Attracts
Aphids, Mites  
-  

Allergy
conjunctivitis, Dermatitis, Skin rash  
-  

Benefits

Uses
  
  

Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes  
-  

Beauty Benefits
-  
-  

Edible Uses
No  
Yes  

Environmental Uses
Very little waste  
Air purification  

Plant Benefits
  
  

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

Part of Plant Used
-  
Leaves  

Other Uses
Application in Handicrafts, Making Perfumes, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Used as Ornamental plant  
Used As Food  

Used As Indoor Plant
Yes  
No  

Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes  
Yes  

Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine  

Scientific Name

Botanical Name
LAELIA anceps  
BASELLA alba  

Common Name
Laelia, Orchid  
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach  

In Hindi
Laelia  
पोई  

In German
Laelia  
Malabarspinat  

In French
Laelia  
L’épinard de Malabar  

In Spanish
Laelia  
espinaca de Malabar  

In Greek
Laelia  
Malabar Σπανάκι  

In Portuguese
Laelia  
Malabar espinafre  

In Polish
Laelia  
Szpinak Malabar  

In Latin
Laelia  
Spinach Malabar  

Classification

Kingdom
Plantae  
Plantae  

Phylum
Magnoliophyta  
Magnoliophyta  

Class
Liliopsida  
Eudicotyledones  

Order
Orchidales  
Caryophyllales  

Family
Orchidaceae  
Basellaceae  

Genus
Laelia  
Basella  

Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots  

Tribe
Epidendreae  
-  

Subfamily
Epidendroideae  
-  

Number of Species
25  
99+
60  

Summary >>
<< Classification

Properties of Laelia and Malabar Spinach

Wondering what are the properties of Laelia and Malabar Spinach? We provide you with everything About Laelia and Malabar Spinach. Laelia doesn't have thorns and Malabar Spinach doesn't have thorns. Also Laelia does not have fragrant flowers. Laelia has allergic reactions like conjunctivitis, Dermatitis and Skin rash and Malabar Spinach has allergic reactions like conjunctivitis, Dermatitis and Skin rash. 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 Laelia and Malabar Spinach and you can choose the plant having best and most benefits.

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Season and Care of Laelia and Malabar Spinach

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

Laelia and Malabar Spinach Physical Information

Laelia and Malabar Spinach physical information is very important for comparison. Laelia height is 45.70 cm and width 45.70 cm whereas Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm. The color specification of Laelia and Malabar Spinach are as follows:

Care of Laelia and Malabar Spinach

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