Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Tree
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
  
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
  
not available
  
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
  
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
10-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12*7
  
12-10
  
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
  
H1, H2
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
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
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
  
Egg-shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
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
Not Available
  
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
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
  
  
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
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
Not Available
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
Yes
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Birds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
No Beauty Benefits
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
  
No Medicinal Use
  
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
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Eudicotyledones
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Sapindales
  
Family
Basellaceae
  
Zygophyllaceae
  
Genus
Basella
  
Guaiacum
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Not Available
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
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.