Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Cactus or Succulent
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
  
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico
  
Types
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Colville's Barrel Cactus, Long-spined Barrel Cactus, Barrel Cactus
  
Habitat
gardens
  
limestone outcrops, Rocky areas, Semi desert
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
12-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-7
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
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
  
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Yellow, Magenta
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Purple, Black
  
Pink, Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Round
  
Not Available
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
Needs good drainage, Needs very little water, Water carefully
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
No pruning needed
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Mites
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Insignificant
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Astringent
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
  
Flowers
  
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
  
ECHINOCACTUS horizonthalonius
  
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
Devilshead, Turk's head cactus, Blue barrel cactus, Eagle's claw, Horse maimer, Horse crippler, Visnaga meloncillo
  
In Hindi
भारतीय पालक
  
Blue barrel cactus
  
In German
Indian Spinat
  
Blau Faßkaktus
  
In French
épinards indienne
  
Bleu barrel cactus
  
In Spanish
espinaca india
  
biznaga Azul
  
In Greek
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
Μπλε βαρέλι κάκτος
  
In Portuguese
espinafre indiano
  
cacto de tambor azul
  
In Polish
Indyjski szpinak
  
Niebieski baryłkę kaktus
  
In Latin
Spinach Indian
  
Blue Cactus
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Not Available
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Not Available
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Basellaceae
  
Cactaceae
  
Genus
Basella
  
Echinocactus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Cacteae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Cactaceae