Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
-
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
bottomlands, Depression on prairies, ditches, Floodplains, Riverbanks, stream banks, Swamps
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
4-9
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
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
Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Gray Green
Yellow, Light Yellow, Tan
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
-
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Oval with a pointed tip and fine teeth along their edges
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
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Pollution, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Requires a lot of watering, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Shape and thin as needed
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No need to fertilize every year
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Aphids, Red blotch, Sawfly Larvae
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Pollution, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Erosion control, Wildlife
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Whole plant
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
Feature Plant, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
BETULA nigra
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
River Birch
In German
Malabarspinat
Fluss Birch
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
Birch river
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
river Birch
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
ποταμός Birch
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
river Birch
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
Rzeka Birch
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
Betula
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Fagales
Family
Basellaceae
Betulaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Season and Care of Malabar Spinach and River Birch
Season and care of Malabar Spinach and River Birch is important to know. While considering everything about Malabar Spinach and River Birch Care, growing season is an essential factor. Malabar Spinach season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter and River Birch season is Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. The type of soil for Malabar Spinach is Clay, Loam and for River Birch is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Malabar Spinach is Neutral and for River Birch is Acidic, Neutral.
Malabar Spinach and River Birch Physical Information
Malabar Spinach and River Birch physical information is very important for comparison. Malabar Spinach height is 2.40 cm and width 24.00 cm whereas River Birch height is 1,220.00 cm and width 1,220.00 cm. The color specification of Malabar Spinach and River Birch are as follows:
Malabar Spinach flower color: Red, Green and Orange Red
Malabar Spinach leaf color: Green and Light Green
River Birch flower color: Yellow and Brown
- River Birch leaf color: Green and Light Green
Care of Malabar Spinach and River Birch
Care of Malabar Spinach and River Birch include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Malabar Spinach pruning is done Remove damaged leaves and Remove dead leaves and River Birch pruning is done Prune in the late winter or spring, Remove dead or diseased plant parts and Shape and thin as needed. In summer Malabar Spinach needs Average Water and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer River Birch needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.