Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Herbs
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
Europe, 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
Dry areas, Roadsides, stream banks, Stream side, Waste areas
  
gardens
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
3-7
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
7-1
  
12-7
  
Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 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
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Lavender
  
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Sandy Brown
  
Purple, Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green, Gray
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green, Gray
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green, Gray
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
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, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought, Dry soil
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Low
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
  
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, Alkaline
  
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
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune in spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Caterpillars, Leaf Hoppers, Nematodes, Spider mites
  
Insects, Mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Frost
  
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
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Yes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Flying insects, Insects, Spider Mites
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain, Vomiting
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines, Upset stomach
  
Astringent
  
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Air freshner, Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Making Perfumes, Making Shampoo, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Medicinal oil, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
NEPETA cataria
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
Cat Nip, Catnip
  
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
कटनीप
  
भारतीय पालक
  
In German
Katzenminze
  
Indian Spinat
  
In French
cataire
  
épinards indienne
  
In Spanish
Catnip
  
espinaca india
  
In Greek
Είδος δυόσμου
  
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
catnip
  
espinafre indiano
  
In Polish
Kocimiętka
  
Indyjski szpinak
  
In Latin
catnip
  
Spinach Indian
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Lamiales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Lamiaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Nepeta
  
Basella
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Mentheae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
  
Not Available