Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
Africa, Asia
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
esculentum, depressum, serpentium
  
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Habitat
Anthropogenic, Wild
  
gardens
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-12
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
12*1
  
12-7
  
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
Lavender
  
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
White, Purple, Plum, Black
  
Purple, Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Broad, Unlobed
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged
  
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
In Summer
Average Water
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Clay, 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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 10-10-10 amount
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Beetles, Blight, Cutworms, Flea Beetles, Leaf spot, Red blotch
  
Insects, Mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Aphids, Beetles, Insects, Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
contact allergic dermatitis, Headache, Itchiness
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Skin cleanser
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Potassium, Rich in Iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K
  
Astringent
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Food for animals, Used as a nutritious food item, 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, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
SOLANUM melongena 'Ichiban'
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
Eggplant, Ichiban Eggplant, Japanese Eggplant
  
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
बैंगन
  
भारतीय पालक
  
In German
Aubergine
  
Indian Spinat
  
In French
Aubergine
  
épinards indienne
  
In Spanish
Berenjena
  
espinaca india
  
In Greek
Μελιτζάνα
  
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
Berinjela
  
espinafre indiano
  
In Polish
Bakłażan
  
Indyjski szpinak
  
In Latin
Eggplant
  
Spinach Indian
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Solanales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Solanaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Solanum L
  
Basella
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Solaneae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Solanoideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available