Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Shrub
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Southern Africa
  
Types
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
gardens
  
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
9-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-7
  
12-9
  
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
  
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
White
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Purple, Black
  
Light Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Round
  
Elliptic and Ovate
  
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
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Shade areas
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
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
  
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
  
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Mites
  
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Shade areas
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
Not Available
  
Yes
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Birds
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
Toxic
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Astringent
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
  
Flowers, Fruits
  
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
  
CARISSA macrocarpa
  
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
Carissia
  
In Hindi
भारतीय पालक
  
Carissa
  
In German
Indian Spinat
  
carissa
  
In French
épinards indienne
  
carissa
  
In Spanish
espinaca india
  
carissa
  
In Greek
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
carissa
  
In Portuguese
espinafre indiano
  
carissa
  
In Polish
Indyjski szpinak
  
carissa
  
In Latin
Spinach Indian
  
carissa
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Not Available
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Not Available
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Gentianales
  
Family
Basellaceae
  
Apocynaceae
  
Genus
Basella
  
Carissa
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Carisseae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Rauvolfioideae