Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Perennial, Shrub
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Northwestern United States, Canada
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
sharpleaf penstemon, white-margined beardtongue, lowland beardtongue
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
foothill woods, High elevation, Open areas, Rocky areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
4-9
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
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Mat-forming
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light 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
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Narrow and lance shape
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Late Spring, Early Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Needs less watering, Requires regular watering, Water occasionally
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
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
-
Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Aesthetic Uses
-
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Recovering internal injuries, Wounds
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Flowers
Other Uses
Used As Food
Container, Used as Ornamental plant, Veterinarian uses
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Alpine, Container, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
PENSTEMON fruticosus 'Purple Haze'
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Bush Penstemon, Shrubby Penstemon
In Hindi
पोई
Bush Penstemon
In German
Malabarspinat
Bush Penstemon
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
Bush Penstemon
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
Bush Penstemon
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
Μπους Penstemon
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
Bush, Penstemon
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
Bush Penstemon
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
Persicaria Bush
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Scrophulariales
Family
Basellaceae
Scrophulariaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Season and Care of Malabar Spinach and Bush Penstemon
Season and care of Malabar Spinach and Bush Penstemon is important to know. While considering everything about Malabar Spinach and Bush Penstemon Care, growing season is an essential factor. Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Bush Penstemon season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam and for Bush Penstemon is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Malabar Spinach is Neutral and for Bush Penstemon is Acidic, Neutral.
Malabar Spinach and Bush Penstemon Physical Information
Malabar Spinach and Bush Penstemon physical information is very important for comparison. Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm whereas Bush Penstemon height is 45.72 cm and width 40.64 cm. The color specification of Malabar Spinach and Bush Penstemon are as follows:
Malabar Spinach flower color: Red, Green and Orange Red
Malabar Spinach leaf color: Green and Light Green
Bush Penstemon flower color: Purple
- Bush Penstemon leaf color: Dark Green
Care of Malabar Spinach and Bush Penstemon
Care of Malabar Spinach and Bush Penstemon include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves and Bush Penstemon pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves. In summer Malabar Spinach needs Average Water and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Bush Penstemon needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.