Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
not available
  
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
  
Habitat
secondary forest, shaded woods
  
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
  
12*7
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
  
Red, Green, Orange Red
  
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available, Yellow
  
White, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Yellow, Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Yellow, Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Yellow, Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow
  
Purple, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Yellow, Green, Dark Green, Light Yellow
  
Purple, Gray Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
broad, flat
  
Heart-shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
From Rhizomes, Seedlings
  
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep ground moist, Keep the Soil well drained
  
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
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Prune central stem, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
  
Nitrogen
  
Pests and Diseases
Mealy bugs, Red spider mite
  
Aphids
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
Yes
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Insects, Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Unknown
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes, Wild gardens
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
  
Part of Plant Used
Not Available
  
Leaves
  
Other Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet 'Variegata'
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
Golden Lotus, Shell Ginger, Variegated Shell Ginger
  
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
golden lotus
  
पोई
  
In German
golden lotus
  
Malabarspinat
  
In French
golden lotus
  
L’épinard de Malabar
  
In Spanish
golden lotus
  
espinaca de Malabar
  
In Greek
golden lotus
  
Malabar Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
golden lotus
  
Malabar espinafre
  
In Polish
golden lotus
  
Szpinak Malabar
  
In Latin
golden lotus
  
Spinach Malabar
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Eudicotyledones
  
Order
Zingiberales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Zingiberaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Ensete
  
Basella
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available