Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Southern Africa
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
Coastal Regions, 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
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Cushion/Mound-forming
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
Light Red
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
Elliptic and Ovate
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
-
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
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
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Shade areas
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Used As Food
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
CARISSA macrocarpa
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Carissia
In German
Malabarspinat
carissa
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
carissa
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
carissa
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
carissa
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
carissa
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
carissa
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
carissa
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Gentianales
Family
Basellaceae
Apocynaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
-
Rauvolfioideae
Season and Care of Malabar Spinach and Carissa
Season and care of Malabar Spinach and Carissa is important to know. While considering everything about Malabar Spinach and Carissa Care, growing season is an essential factor. Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Carissa season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam and for Carissa is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Malabar Spinach is Neutral and for Carissa is Acidic, Neutral.
Malabar Spinach and Carissa Physical Information
Malabar Spinach and Carissa physical information is very important for comparison. Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm whereas Carissa height is 90.00 cm and width 60.00 cm. The color specification of Malabar Spinach and Carissa are as follows:
Malabar Spinach flower color: Red, Green and Orange Red
Malabar Spinach leaf color: Green and Light Green
Carissa flower color: White
- Carissa leaf color: Dark Green
Care of Malabar Spinach and Carissa
Care of Malabar Spinach and Carissa include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves and Carissa pruning is done Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves and Remove dead or diseased plant parts. In summer Malabar Spinach needs Average Water and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Carissa needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.