Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Herbaceous Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Africa, Kenya, South Africa
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Freesia
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
gardens, Grassland, Homesteads, Tropical regions, Wet forest
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
9-10
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
-
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Upright/Erect
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
Yellow
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Gray Green
Green, Light Yellow, Brown
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Linear
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Slightly Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Early Spring, Spring
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
From bulbs
Plant Maintenance
Medium
High
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Needs a lot of moisture in the growing season, Stop watering completely once the plant becomes dormant
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral
Slightly Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand, Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Shade, Indirect sunlight, Partial shade, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Cut away fading foliage, Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
20-20-20 amount, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Potash
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Pests and diseases free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Ground Cover, Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics, Skin cleanser
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Bulbs, Flowers
Other Uses
Used As Food
Cosmetics, Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used for fragrance
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Feature Plant, Flower borders, Screening
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
Freesia refracta
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Freesia
In German
Malabarspinat
Freesie
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
Freesia
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
fresia
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
freesia
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
freesia
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
frezja
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
Freesia
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Asparagales
Family
Basellaceae
Iridaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Season and Care of Malabar Spinach and Freesia
Season and care of Malabar Spinach and Freesia is important to know. While considering everything about Malabar Spinach and Freesia Care, growing season is an essential factor. Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Freesia season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam and for Freesia is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Malabar Spinach is Neutral and for Freesia is Slightly Acidic.
Malabar Spinach and Freesia Physical Information
Malabar Spinach and Freesia physical information is very important for comparison. Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm whereas Freesia height is 50.00 cm and width 40.00 cm. The color specification of Malabar Spinach and Freesia are as follows:
Malabar Spinach flower color: Red, Green and Orange Red
Malabar Spinach leaf color: Green and Light Green
Freesia flower color: Yellow
- Freesia leaf color: Green
Care of Malabar Spinach and Freesia
Care of Malabar Spinach and Freesia include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves and Freesia pruning is done Cut away fading foliage, Remove deadheads and Requires very little pruning. In summer Malabar Spinach needs Average Water and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Freesia needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.