Life Span
Biennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
-
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Chinese red birch, Betula fruticosa, Betula ermanii
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Number of Varieties
605
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Rocky areas, Sandy areas, Well Drained, Wet forest, Wet ground, Wet lands
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-7-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
7-1
12*7
Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16
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
Pyramidal
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,219.20 cm2.40 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm24.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Tan
Red, Green, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Bronze, Sandy Brown
White, Ivory
Leaf Color in Spring
-
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
-
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Red, Orange
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Purple, Gray Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Heart-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring
-
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
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
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove short branches
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize in late fall, Nitrogen
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
-
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Birds, Insects
-
Allergy
Itchiness, Pollen, Sore Throat
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
anti-inflammatory, Arthritis, Bone strength, Dermatitis, Eczema, Eliminate toxins, Heart problems, High cholestrol, Immunity, Kidney problems
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves
Other Uses
Used in paper industry
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Shade Trees
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
BETULA 'Crimson Frost'
BASELLA alba
Common Name
Birch, Crimson Frost Birch
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
In Hindi
भोज पत्र
पोई
In German
Birke
Malabarspinat
In French
Arbre de bouleau
L’épinard de Malabar
In Spanish
Abedul
espinaca de Malabar
In Greek
Birch Tree
Malabar Σπανάκι
In Portuguese
bétula
Malabar espinafre
In Polish
Brzoza
Szpinak Malabar
In Latin
Caerulus
Spinach Malabar
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Fagales
Caryophyllales
Family
Betulaceae
Basellaceae
Genus
Betula
Basella
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Carpinaceae
-
Number of Species
3460
1
27800
👆🏻