Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Europe, Northern Europe, Western Europe, United Kingdom
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
M. v. brevipetala
M. v. collina
M. v. frozen
M. v. grandiflora
M. v. paui
M. v. verna
M. v. japonica
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
gardens, Grassland, Prairies, Suburban areas, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
4-7
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
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Mat-forming
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
-
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
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Tiny
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
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
Average
Bloom Time
-
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Keep ground moist, Never Over-water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water more in summer
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
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Fungal Diseases
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Burns, Thyroid problems, tuberculosis
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Flowers, 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
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Alpine, Container, Edging, Groundcover, Lawns and Turf, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
MINUARTIA verna
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Irish Moss
In German
Malabarspinat
Irish Moss
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
Irish Moss
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
musgo de irlanda
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
Irish Moss
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
Moss irlandês
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
mech irlandzki
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
Irish Moss
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Order
Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales
Family
Basellaceae
Caryophyllaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Importance of Malabar Spinach and Irish Moss
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Malabar Spinach and Irish Moss. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Malabar Spinach and Irish Moss 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 Irish Moss is Burns, Thyroid problems and tuberculosis. Malabar Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: while Irish Moss has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Malabar Spinach vs Irish Moss
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 Irish Moss 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 Irish Moss have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Malabar Spinach has showy fruits and Irish Moss has no showy fruits. Also Malabar Spinach is not flowering and Irish Moss is flowering. You can compare Malabar Spinach and Irish Moss facts and facts of other plants too.