Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Vegetable
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Latin America and the Caribbean
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Heliconiaceae
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
Humid climates, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
10-15
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, H2, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Thicket/Colonizing
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
Red, Orange
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
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
Ovate
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
-
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
From Rhizomes, Micropropagation
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
Fertilize every two months
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red blotch, Soft scales
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Foliage Texture
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Attracts
-
Hummingbirds, Insects
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for birds
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Healing
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Root, Seeds
Other Uses
Used As Food
Florist trade and landscaping
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
HELICONIA psittacorum 'Lady Di'
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Heliconia, Lady Di Heliconia, Parakeet Flower
In German
Malabarspinat
Heliconia
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
Heliconia
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
Heliconia
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
Heliconia
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
Heliconia
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
Heliconia
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
Heliconia
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Liliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Zingiberales
Family
Basellaceae
Heliconiaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Season and Care of Malabar Spinach and Heliconia
Season and care of Malabar Spinach and Heliconia is important to know. While considering everything about Malabar Spinach and Heliconia Care, growing season is an essential factor. Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Heliconia season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam and for Heliconia is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Malabar Spinach is Neutral and for Heliconia is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.
Malabar Spinach and Heliconia Physical Information
Malabar Spinach and Heliconia physical information is very important for comparison. Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm whereas Heliconia height is 60.00 cm and width 150.00 cm. The color specification of Malabar Spinach and Heliconia are as follows:
Malabar Spinach flower color: Red, Green and Orange Red
Malabar Spinach leaf color: Green and Light Green
Heliconia flower color: White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange and Orange Red
- Heliconia leaf color: Green
Care of Malabar Spinach and Heliconia
Care of Malabar Spinach and Heliconia include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves and Heliconia pruning is done Cut or pinch the stems, 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 Heliconia needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.