Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Vegetable
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Madagascar
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
-
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
subtropical regions, Tropical areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
9-15
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
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 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
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
Red, Pink, Peach
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
-
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Pollution, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Do not water excessively, Needs less watering, Needs small amount of water
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, 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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
aster yellow, Leaf spot, Red blotch, Root rot, Slugs, Snails, Stem rot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Pollution, Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Allergy
-
Toxic if not prepared properly
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover, Hanging Basket, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Edible Uses
Yes
Sometimes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Cancer, Diabetes, Hodgkin's lymphoma., Leukemia, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Flowering Tips, Leaves, stalk
Other Uses
Used As Food
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Traditional medicine, Use in Chinese herbology
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Sometimes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Bedding Plant, Container, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
CATHARANTHUS roseus
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Cooler Apricot Vinca, Madagascar Periwinkle, Vinca
In German
Malabarspinat
Rosafarbene Catharanthe
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
Pervenche de Madagascar
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
Catharanthus roseus
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
Catharanthus roseus
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
Catharanthus roseus
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
Katarantus różowy
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
Catharanthus roseus
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Gentianales
Family
Basellaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Basella
Catharanthus
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
-
Rauvolfioideae
Season and Care of Malabar Spinach and Madagascar Periwinkle
Season and care of Malabar Spinach and Madagascar Periwinkle is important to know. While considering everything about Malabar Spinach and Madagascar Periwinkle Care, growing season is an essential factor. Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and Madagascar Periwinkle season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam and for Madagascar Periwinkle is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Malabar Spinach is Neutral and for Madagascar Periwinkle is Neutral, Alkaline.
Malabar Spinach and Madagascar Periwinkle Physical Information
Malabar Spinach and Madagascar Periwinkle physical information is very important for comparison. Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm whereas Madagascar Periwinkle height is 25.40 cm and width 15.20 cm. The color specification of Malabar Spinach and Madagascar Periwinkle are as follows:
Malabar Spinach flower color: Red, Green and Orange Red
Malabar Spinach leaf color: Green and Light Green
Madagascar Periwinkle flower color: Red, Pink and Peach
- Madagascar Periwinkle leaf color: Dark Green
Care of Malabar Spinach and Madagascar Periwinkle
Care of Malabar Spinach and Madagascar Periwinkle include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves and Madagascar Periwinkle pruning is done 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 Madagascar Periwinkle needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.