Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Cactus or Succulent
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Mexico
  
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
  
Desert
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
8-12
  
AHS Heat Zone
12*7
  
12-5
  
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
  
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
  
Yellow, Red, Orange
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
  
Reddish Plum
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Gray Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
  
Globe shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
  
Loamy, Sandy, Well drained
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought, Salt
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Grafting, Seedlings, Transplanting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
  
Does not require lot of watering, Water once every two or three weeks, Water when soil is dry
  
In Summer
Average Water
  
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
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Prune ocassionally, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
  
Aphids, Caterpillars, Cochineal insect, Mealybugs, Nematodes, Red spider mite, Rodent, Root rot, Scale, Slugs, Snails, Thripes, Viruses, Worms
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
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
Yes
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Aphids, Birds, Rodents
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Nourishes scalp, Reduce Bruises, Remove blemishes
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
  
Antioxidants, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Hangover
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
  
Flowers, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Used As Food
  
Biomass for fuel, Employed in herbal medicine, Fine spines and trichomes are used as fiber for weaving, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Container, Feature Plant, Fruit, Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
  
OPUNTIA ficus-indica
  
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
  
Indian fig opuntia, Barbary fig, cactus pear, spineless cactus
  
In Hindi
पोई
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In German
Malabarspinat
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
  
Φραγκοσυκιά
  
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
  
Opuntia ficus-indica
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Eudicotyledones
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Basellaceae
  
Cactaceae
  
Genus
Basella
  
Opuntia Mill
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Opuntieae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Opuntioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available