Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Perennial
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
gardens
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-10
-9999
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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
Habit
Clump-Forming
Vining/Climbing
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White, Pink, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Purple, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Round
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, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Insects, Mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
-
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Astringent
Part of Plant Used
Root
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Culinary use, Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
BASELLA alba
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
In Hindi
African Iris
भारतीय पालक
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Indian Spinat
In French
African Iris
épinards indienne
In Spanish
Iris africano
espinaca india
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
In Portuguese
Iris africano
espinafre indiano
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Indyjski szpinak
In Latin
African Iris
Spinach Indian
Order
Asparagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Iridaceae
Basellaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Importance of African Iris and Indian Spinach
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of African Iris and Indian Spinach. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare African Iris and Indian Spinach as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of African Iris is whereas of Indian Spinach is Astringent. African Iris has beauty benefits as follows: while Indian Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of African Iris vs Indian Spinach
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of African Iris vs Indian Spinach and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of African Iris are Skin irritation whereas of Indian Spinach have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. African Iris has no showy fruits and Indian Spinach has showy fruits. Also African Iris is not flowering and Indian Spinach is not flowering . You can compare African Iris and Indian Spinach facts and facts of other plants too.