Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Herbaceous Perennial
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
Chile, Southeast Asia
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
Not Available
  
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Mountain forests, subtropical regions, Terrestrial
  
gardens
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-12
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
  
12-7
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Dark Blue
  
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Tan
  
Purple, Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Ovate
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Fall, Spring, Summer
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Alkaline, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Late Spring
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Keep the Soil well drained, 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
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Alkaline, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
10-10-5, All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Mealy bugs, No serious insect or disease problems, Red spider mite
  
Insects, Mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Not Available
  
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
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
Yes
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Bugs, Insects, Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Unknown
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Bonsai, Borders, Landscape Designing, Mixed Border, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Astringent
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
  
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bonsai, Container, Hanging Basket, Landscape
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
Begonia masoniana
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
Angel's Wings, Butterfly Flower, Poor Man's Orchid
  
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
iron cross begonia
  
भारतीय पालक
  
In German
Eisenkreuz Begonie
  
Indian Spinat
  
In French
croix de fer bégonia
  
épinards indienne
  
In Spanish
el hierro cruzado begonia
  
espinaca india
  
In Greek
σταυρό μπιγκόνια σιδήρου
  
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
begônia cruz de ferro
  
espinafre indiano
  
In Polish
Iron Cross begonia
  
Indyjski szpinak
  
In Latin
ferrum crucem Begonia
  
Spinach Indian
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Cucurbitales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Begoniaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Begonia
  
Basella
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available