Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
Europe, Southern Europe, Turkey, Northern Africa
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
Elegantissima boxwood, Latifolia Maculata boxwood
  
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Habitat
Sandy areas, Temperate Regions
  
gardens
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-8
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
12-7
  
Sunset Zone
21,22
  
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
Oval or Rounded
  
Vining/Climbing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow green
  
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Purple, Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive, Dark Green, Bronze
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sandy
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Sandy
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Stem Cutting, stem tip cuttings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do not water frequently
  
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
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
A hard prune may be necessary if the plant becomes woody, Cut away fading foliage, Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
Compost, fertilize in growing season
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Mildew, Mites, Red blotch
  
Insects, Mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Salt and Soil Compaction, Shallow soil
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
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
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Caterpillar, Early/Late Blight, Mites, Spider Mites
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Eye irritation, Skin irritation
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Blackheads, Good Cleanser, Makes Hair Silkier
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Erosion control, Provides ground cover
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Dermatitis, epilepsy, Treating fever
  
Astringent
  
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaves
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used to make chess pieces
  
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Bonsai, Edging, Espalier, Foundation, Hedges, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
Buxus sempervirens
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
English boxwood
  
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
European boxwood
  
भारतीय पालक
  
In German
Gewöhnlicher Buchsbaum
  
Indian Spinat
  
In French
Buis commun
  
épinards indienne
  
In Spanish
boj común
  
espinaca india
  
In Greek
European boxwood
  
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
Buxo
  
espinafre indiano
  
In Polish
Bukszpan wieczniezielony
  
Indyjski szpinak
  
In Latin
European boxwood
  
Spinach Indian
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Buxales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Buxaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Buxus
  
Basella
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available