Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Tender Perennial
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
  
North America, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
Types
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Cryptanthus 'Absolute Zero'
Cryptanthus 'Agate'
Cryptanthus 'Alberta'
Cryptanthus 'Alpine Frost'
  
Habitat
gardens
  
Lowland evergreen rainforest, Rainforest, Shaded sites, Wild
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-7
  
Not Available
  
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
  
Not Available
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Not Available
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Not Available
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Purple, Black
  
Not Available
  
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
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Round
  
Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
Not Available
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Not Available
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Not Available
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
  
Not Available
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Not Available
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Not Available
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Not Available
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Cuttings, Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
Average Water Needs, Do not water excessively, Keep the Soil well drained
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral
  
Not Available
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
  
Not Available
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Not Available
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Not Available
  
Pruning
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Pinch or prune as they grow to promote branching and bushiness, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Does not require fertilizer once established
  
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Mites
  
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Variety of soil types
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Edible Fruit
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
Not Available
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Showy Bark
No
  
Not Available
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Not Available
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Ladybug beetles, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beautification, Borders, Decorating walls, Ground Cover
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Astringent
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
  
Not Available
  
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used as Ornamental plant, useful as a ground cover
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Not Available
  
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
  
CRYPTANTHUS
  
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
Cryptanthus, Earth Star
  
In Hindi
भारतीय पालक
  
Earth Star
  
In German
Indian Spinat
  
Erdstern
  
In French
épinards indienne
  
Terre étoile
  
In Spanish
espinaca india
  
estrella de la tierra
  
In Greek
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
γη αστεριών
  
In Portuguese
espinafre indiano
  
Estrela da terra
  
In Polish
Indyjski szpinak
  
Gwiazda ziemi
  
In Latin
Spinach Indian
  
terra, stella
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Not Available
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Not Available
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Bromeliales
  
Family
Basellaceae
  
Bromeliaceae
  
Genus
Basella
  
Cryptanthus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Bromelioideae