Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Vegetable
Origin
Southern Africa
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Perennial
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
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
Red, Green, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
White, Ivory
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
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Heart-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
-
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
In Summer
Lots of watering
Average Water
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, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Aphids
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
-
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Root
Leaves
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
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, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
In Hindi
African Iris
पोई
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Malabarspinat
In French
African Iris
L’épinard de Malabar
In Spanish
Iris africano
espinaca de Malabar
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Malabar Σπανάκι
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Malabar espinafre
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Szpinak Malabar
In Latin
African Iris
Spinach Malabar
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Asparagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Iridaceae
Basellaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Importance of African Iris and Malabar Spinach
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of African Iris and Malabar Spinach. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare African Iris and Malabar 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 Malabar Spinach is Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. African Iris has beauty benefits as follows: while Malabar Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of African Iris vs Malabar 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 Malabar 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 Malabar 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 Malabar Spinach has showy fruits. Also African Iris is not flowering and Malabar Spinach is not flowering . You can compare African Iris and Malabar Spinach facts and facts of other plants too.