Life Span
Annual or Biennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
Mexico, Central America
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
Mexican potato,Mexican yam bean
  
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
agricultural areas, Moist Soils, Wet ground
  
gardens
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-8
  
12-7
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 22, 23, 24
  
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
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Vining/Climbing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Lavender
  
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Green, Tan
  
Purple, Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
  
Round
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Dry soil, Shallow soil
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
From bulbs
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist
  
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
In Summer
Average Water
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Moderate
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Beetles, Leaf spot, Red blotch
  
Insects, Mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas, Shallow soil
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Not Available
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Mice
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Irritation to stomach, Itchiness
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Improve skin tone
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
No
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Food for animals, Soil protection
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Cold, Fever, Inflammation
  
Astringent
  
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Root
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Used As Food
  
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Edible, Herb, Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
PACHYRHIZUS erosus
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
Mexican Yam bean
  
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
Pachyrhizus erosus
  
भारतीय पालक
  
In German
Yambohne
  
Indian Spinat
  
In French
Kłębian kątowaty
  
épinards indienne
  
In Spanish
Pachyrhizus erosus
  
espinaca india
  
In Greek
Pachyrhizus erosus
  
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
Pachyrhizus erosus
  
espinafre indiano
  
In Polish
Pachyrhizus erosus
  
Indyjski szpinak
  
In Latin
Pachyrhizus erosus
  
Spinach Indian
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Angiosperms
  
Not Available
  
Class
Eudicotyledones
  
Not Available
  
Order
Fabales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Fabaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Pachyrhizus
  
Basella
  
Clade
Angiosperms
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available