Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Africa, Asia
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
esculentum, depressum, serpentium
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
Anthropogenic, Wild
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
10-12
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
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
White, Purple, Plum, Black
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
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Broad, Unlobed
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer, Fall
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged
In Summer
Average Water
Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Aphids, Beetles, Blight, Cutworms, Flea Beetles, Leaf spot, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
Yes
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
-
Aphids, Beetles, Insects
Allergy
-
contact allergic dermatitis, Headache, Itchiness
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin cleanser
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Potassium, Rich in Iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Used As Food
Food for animals, Used as a nutritious food item, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
SOLANUM melongena 'Ichiban'
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Eggplant, Ichiban Eggplant, Japanese Eggplant
In German
Malabarspinat
Aubergine
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
Aubergine
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
Berenjena
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
Μελιτζάνα
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
Berinjela
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
Bakłażan
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
Eggplant
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Solanales
Family
Basellaceae
Solanaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids
Importance of Malabar Spinach and Eggplant
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Malabar Spinach and Eggplant. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Malabar Spinach and Eggplant 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 Eggplant is Potassium, Rich in Iron, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. Malabar Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: while Eggplant has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Malabar Spinach vs Eggplant
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 Eggplant 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 Eggplant have contact allergic dermatitis, Headache and Itchiness respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Malabar Spinach has showy fruits and Eggplant has showy fruits. Also Malabar Spinach is not flowering and Eggplant is not flowering . You can compare Malabar Spinach and Eggplant facts and facts of other plants too.