Life Span
Annual
Perennial
Type
Flowering Plants, Shrubs
Vegetable
Origin
America
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Lobelia aberdarica, Lobelia leschenaultiana, Lobelia canbyi
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Number of Varieties
Not Available
Habitat
Open areas, River side, Woods
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
Not Available
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
Cushion/Mound-forming
Vining/Climbing
Flower Color
Blue, Red, Violet, White
Red, Green, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Not Available
White, Ivory
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Shape
Cushion
Heart-shaped
Plant Season
Fall, Summer
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Well drained
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Fall, Early Summer, Late Summer, Mid fall, Mid Spring
Not Available
Tolerances
Not Available
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water twice a day in the initial period
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 Type
Well drained
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune after flowering, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Botrytis Blight, Crown rot, Pythium rot, Stem spot
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Birds, Hummingbirds
Not Available
Allergy
coma, convulsions, Diarrhea, exhaustion, Nausea, salivation, Vomiting, weakness
Not Available
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Bouquets, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
Not Available
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Bronchitis, Croup
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Leaves
Other Uses
Showy Purposes
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Bog Garden, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
Lobelia laxiflora
BASELLA alba
Common Name
Lobelia
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
In German
Lobelie
Malabarspinat
In French
Lobelia
L’épinard de Malabar
In Spanish
Lobelia
espinaca de Malabar
In Greek
λοβηλία
Malabar Σπανάκι
In Portuguese
Lobélia
Malabar espinafre
In Polish
Lobelia
Szpinak Malabar
In Latin
Lobelia
Spinach Malabar
Phylum
Anthophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Dicotyledonae
Eudicotyledones
Order
Asterales
Caryophyllales
Family
Campanulaceae
Basellaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Not Available
Not Available
Subfamily
Lobelioideae
Not Available
Number of Species
Not Available
Properties of Lobelia and Malabar Spinach
Wondering what are the properties of Lobelia and Malabar Spinach? We provide you with everything About Lobelia and Malabar Spinach. Lobelia doesn't have thorns and Malabar Spinach doesn't have thorns. Also Lobelia does not have fragrant flowers. Lobelia has allergic reactions like coma, convulsions, Diarrhea, exhaustion, Nausea, salivation, Vomiting and weakness and Malabar Spinach has allergic reactions like coma, convulsions, Diarrhea, exhaustion, Nausea, salivation, Vomiting and weakness. 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 Lobelia and Malabar Spinach and you can choose the plant having best and most benefits.
Season and Care of Lobelia and Malabar Spinach
Season and care of Lobelia and Malabar Spinach is important to know. While considering everything about Lobelia and Malabar Spinach Care, growing season is an essential factor. Lobelia season is Fall and Summer and Malabar Spinach season is Fall and Summer. The type of soil for Lobelia is Well drained and for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam while the PH of soil for Lobelia is Acidic and for Malabar Spinach is Neutral.
Lobelia and Malabar Spinach Physical Information
Lobelia and Malabar Spinach physical information is very important for comparison. Lobelia height is 0.54 cm and width 0.38 cm whereas Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm. The color specification of Lobelia and Malabar Spinach are as follows:
Lobelia flower color: Blue, Red, Violet and White
Lobelia leaf color: Dark Green
Malabar Spinach flower color: Red, Green and Orange Red
- Malabar Spinach leaf color: Green and Light Green
Care of Lobelia and Malabar Spinach
Care of Lobelia and Malabar Spinach include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Lobelia pruning is done Cut or pinch the stems, Prune after flowering, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Remove deadheads and Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves. In summer Lobelia 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.