Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Guaiacum officinale
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
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
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Gray Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
Olive
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Egg-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Salt
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
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Average Water
Consistently
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil pH
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
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 to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
-
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
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
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Used As Food
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
पोई
Lignum Vitae
In German
Malabarspinat
Lignum Vitae
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
Palo santo
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
pau-santo
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
lignum Vitae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Sapindales
Family
Basellaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
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Season and Care of Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae
Season and care of Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae is important to know. While considering everything about Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae Care, growing season is an essential factor. Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Lignum Vitae season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam and for Lignum Vitae is Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Malabar Spinach is Neutral and for Lignum Vitae is Neutral, Alkaline.
Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae Physical Information
Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae physical information is very important for comparison. Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm whereas Lignum Vitae height is 300.00 cm and width 370.00 cm. The color specification of Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae are as follows:
Malabar Spinach flower color: Red, Green and Orange Red
Malabar Spinach leaf color: Green and Light Green
Lignum Vitae flower color: Purple, Violet and Blue Violet
- Lignum Vitae leaf color: Green and Olive
Care of Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae
Care of Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves and Lignum Vitae pruning is done Prune to stimulate growth. In summer Malabar Spinach needs Average Water and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Lignum Vitae needs Consistently and in winter, it needs Moderate.