Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada, Mexico
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Sorghastrum nutans
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Habitat
Grassland, low mountains, Semi desert, Woodlands
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9
-9999
Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 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
Flower Color
-
Red, Green, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
White, Ivory
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Blue Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Burgundy, Copper
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Shape
Linear
Heart-shaped
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
-
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
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 pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Requires very little pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Insects
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
Drought and Salt
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Allergy
Skin irritation
-
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Wildflower
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
SORGHASTRUM nutans
BASELLA alba
Common Name
Indian Grass
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
In German
Indian Grass
Malabarspinat
In French
Herbe indienne
L’épinard de Malabar
In Spanish
Hierba india
espinaca de Malabar
In Greek
Ινδικό Grass
Malabar Σπανάκι
In Portuguese
grama indianas
Malabar espinafre
In Polish
Indyjski Trawa
Szpinak Malabar
In Latin
Indian Grass
Spinach Malabar
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Poales
Caryophyllales
Family
Poaceae
Basellaceae
Genus
Sorghastrum
Basella
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Importance of Indian Grass and Malabar Spinach
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Indian Grass and Malabar Spinach. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Indian Grass and Malabar Spinach as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Indian Grass is whereas of Malabar Spinach is Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Indian Grass has beauty benefits as follows: while Malabar Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Indian Grass vs Malabar Spinach
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Indian Grass vs Malabar Spinach and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Indian Grass are Skin irritation whereas of Malabar Spinach have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Indian Grass has showy fruits and Malabar Spinach has showy fruits. Also Indian Grass is not flowering and Malabar Spinach is not flowering . You can compare Indian Grass and Malabar Spinach facts and facts of other plants too.