Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Grass
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Southern Europe
  
Types
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Arundo, Carrizo
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
gardens
  
Saline Soils, Sandy areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
6-10
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-7
  
12 - 1
  
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
  
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
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
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
  
Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
  
Green, Gray Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Round
  
Linear
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Very Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
From Rhizomes, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
Requires a lot of watering
  
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
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun
  
Pruning
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Do not prune during shooting season, Prune after harvesting, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
  
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Mites
  
Not Available
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
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
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
allergic conjunctivitis, flushing of face, wheezing
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beautification, Bonsai
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Making cosmetics, Skin cleanser
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Sometimes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Agroforestry, Air purification, Nesting sites for birds, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, soil stabilisation
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Astringent
  
Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Emmoiliant
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
  
Bark, Sap
  
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Basketary, Showy Purposes, Used in making musical instruments, Wood is used in construction
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Sometimes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
  
ARUNDO donax
  
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
Giant Reed
  
In Hindi
भारतीय पालक
  
नरकट
  
In German
Indian Spinat
  
Pfahlrohr
  
In French
épinards indienne
  
Arundo donax
  
In Spanish
espinaca india
  
Arundo donax
  
In Greek
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
Arundo donax
  
In Portuguese
espinafre indiano
  
Cana-do-reino
  
In Polish
Indyjski szpinak
  
Lasecznica trzcinowata
  
In Latin
Spinach Indian
  
Arundo donax
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Not Available
  
Angiosperms
  
Class
Not Available
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Cyperales
  
Family
Basellaceae
  
Poaceae
  
Genus
Basella
  
Arundo
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Commelinids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available