Life Span
Biennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tree
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
Purple Orchid Tree, White Orchid Tree, Bidi leaf tree
  
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Forests, Mountain Slopes, Valley
  
gardens
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-13
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
  
12-7
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
  
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
Upright/Erect
  
Vining/Climbing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Light Pink, Magenta, Violet
  
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Green, Sandy 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, Yellow green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Butterfly shaped
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water Deeply
  
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, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
Apply N-P-K
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
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
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Carminative, Laxative
  
Astringent
  
Part of Plant Used
Buds, Flowers, Leaves, Root, Seeds, Stem
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Fibre, Gum, Used as a dye
  
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
BAUHINIA purpurea
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree
  
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
Butterfly tree
  
भारतीय पालक
  
In German
Schmetterlings- Baum
  
Indian Spinat
  
In French
arbre de papillon
  
épinards indienne
  
In Spanish
árbol de la mariposa
  
espinaca india
  
In Greek
δέντρο πεταλούδα
  
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
árvore borboleta
  
espinafre indiano
  
In Polish
drzewo Butterfly
  
Indyjski szpinak
  
In Latin
Gloria ligno
  
Spinach Indian
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Fabales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Fabaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Bauhinia
  
Basella
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Cercideae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Caesalpinioideae
  
Not Available