Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Fruit, Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
South America
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
V. × heilbornii
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
9-11
Sunset Zone
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
H1, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
Green, Light Yellow, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Palmate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Requires regular watering
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Remove shoots
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Digestive disorders
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Fruits
Other Uses
Used As Food
Used in making champagne
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
VASCONCELLEA x heilbornii
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Babaco, Mountain Papaya
In German
Malabarspinat
Babaco
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
Babaco
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
Babaco
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
Babaco
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
Babaco
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
Babaco
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
Babaco
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Brassicales
Family
Basellaceae
Caricaceae
Genus
Basella
Vasconcellea
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Season and Care of Malabar Spinach and Babaco
Season and care of Malabar Spinach and Babaco is important to know. While considering everything about Malabar Spinach and Babaco Care, growing season is an essential factor. Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Babaco season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam and for Babaco is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Malabar Spinach is Neutral and for Babaco is Acidic, Neutral.
Malabar Spinach and Babaco Physical Information
Malabar Spinach and Babaco physical information is very important for comparison. Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm whereas Babaco height is 180.00 cm and width 150.00 cm. The color specification of Malabar Spinach and Babaco are as follows:
Malabar Spinach flower color: Red, Green and Orange Red
Malabar Spinach leaf color: Green and Light Green
Babaco flower color: Yellow green
- Babaco leaf color: Green and Dark Green
Care of Malabar Spinach and Babaco
Care of Malabar Spinach and Babaco include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves and Babaco pruning is done Remove shoots. In summer Malabar Spinach needs Average Water and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Babaco needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.