Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Turkey, Iran, Western Asia
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Apple Mint, Basil Mint, Ginger Mint
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
Banks, Near organic waste disposal, Roadsides, Stream side
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
4-8
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
A3, 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
Spreading
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
Light Blue, Lavender, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Arrowhead
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Divison, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Average Water Needs, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Average Water
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, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Compost, fertilize in fall, fertilize in spring
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Attracts
-
Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Anaesthesia, Irritation to urinary tract
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Cough, Menstrual Disorders, Nerve pain
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves
Other Uses
Used As Food
Can be made into a herbal tea, Oil is used in mosquito repellents
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
NEPETA mussinii
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Catmint
In German
Malabarspinat
Katzenminze
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
Catmint
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
catmint
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
catmint
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
nêveda
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
catmint
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
nepetae mixtam
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Lamiales
Family
Basellaceae
Lamiaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots
Importance of Malabar Spinach and Catmint
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Malabar Spinach and Catmint. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Malabar Spinach and Catmint 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 Malabar Spinach is Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A and Vitamin C whereas of Catmint is Cough, Menstrual Disorders and Nerve pain. Malabar Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: while Catmint has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Malabar Spinach vs Catmint
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 Malabar Spinach vs Catmint 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 Malabar Spinach are whereas of Catmint have Anaesthesia and Irritation to urinary tract respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Malabar Spinach has showy fruits and Catmint has no showy fruits. Also Malabar Spinach is not flowering and Catmint is flowering. You can compare Malabar Spinach and Catmint facts and facts of other plants too.