Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Europe, Asia
Types
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
Nepeta cataria
Habitat
gardens
Dry areas, Roadsides, stream banks, Stream side, Waste areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
3-7
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
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
White, Pink, Light Pink
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Purple, Black
Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Round
Arrowhead
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Dry soil
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water when soil is dry
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, 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 in spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing, fertilize in growing season
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Mites
Caterpillars, Leaf Hoppers, Nematodes, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Frost
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
-
Flying insects, Insects, Spider Mites
Allergy
-
Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain, Vomiting
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Astringent
Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines, Upset stomach
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Whole plant
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used As Food
Air freshner, Decoration Purposes, Employed in herbal medicine, Making Perfumes, Making Shampoo, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Medicinal oil, 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
Container, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
NEPETA cataria
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
Cat Nip, Catnip
In Hindi
भारतीय पालक
कटनीप
In German
Indian Spinat
Katzenminze
In French
épinards indienne
cataire
In Spanish
espinaca india
Catnip
In Greek
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
Είδος δυόσμου
In Portuguese
espinafre indiano
catnip
In Polish
Indyjski szpinak
Kocimiętka
In Latin
Spinach Indian
catnip
Order
Caryophyllales
Lamiales
Family
Basellaceae
Lamiaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Importance of Indian Spinach and Catnip
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Indian Spinach and Catnip. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Indian Spinach and Catnip 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 Spinach is Astringent whereas of Catnip is Arthritis, Cold, constipation, Fever, Insomia, Migraines and Upset stomach. Indian Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: while Catnip has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Indian Spinach vs Catnip
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 Spinach vs Catnip 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 Spinach are whereas of Catnip have Avoid during Pregnancy, Headache, Stomach pain and Vomiting respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Indian Spinach has showy fruits and Catnip has no showy fruits. Also Indian Spinach is not flowering and Catnip is not flowering . You can compare Indian Spinach and Catnip facts and facts of other plants too.