Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Needled or Scaled Evergreen
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
Western United States
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
Not available
  
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
  
Habitat
Rocky areas, stream banks, Woodland Garden Canopy
  
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-8
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
7-1
  
12*7
  
Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17
  
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
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Non Flowering Plant
  
Red, Green, Orange Red
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Brown
  
White, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green, Steel Blue
  
Purple, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Blue Green, Steel Blue
  
Purple, Gray Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Needle like
  
Heart-shaped
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
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
Very Slow
  
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
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings, Semi-ripe cuttings
  
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, 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
  
  
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, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Nitrogen
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Canker, Free of serious pests and diseases, Needle rust, Scale
  
Aphids
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
None
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Not Applicable
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
Yes
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes, Used as Christmas tree
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Not Available
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Windbreak
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Inner Bark, Seeds
  
Leaves
  
Other Uses
Paper pulp, Wood is used in construction
  
Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Screening, Wind Break
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
PICEA pungens 'Baby Blue Eyes'
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
Dwarf Blue Spruce
  
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
Dwarf Blue Spruce
  
पोई
  
In German
Dwarf Blue Spruce
  
Malabarspinat
  
In French
Dwarf Blue Spruce
  
L’épinard de Malabar
  
In Spanish
Enano Blue Spruce
  
espinaca de Malabar
  
In Greek
Νάνος Blue Spruce
  
Malabar Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
Anão Blue Spruce
  
Malabar espinafre
  
In Polish
Dwarf Blue Spruce
  
Szpinak Malabar
  
In Latin
Blue dwarf Spruce
  
Spinach Malabar
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Coniferophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Pinopsida
  
Eudicotyledones
  
Order
Pinales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Pinaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Picea
  
Basella
  
Clade
Not Available
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Piceoideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available