Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Russia, Siberia, China, Japan
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Iris ensata, Iris japonica
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
Boggy areas, gardens, meadows, Shores of rivers or lakes
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
3-9
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
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Clump-Forming
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
Lavender, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
Brown
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, Brown
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
Light Green
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Linear
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer
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
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Early Summer
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Do Not over Water, Water Deeply, Water slowly, and allow to dry completely between soakings, Water twice a day in the initial period
In Summer
Average Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
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, Pinching, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K, Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Aphids, Red blotch, Rhizome rot, Slugs, Snails, Viruses
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Full Sun, Variety of soil types
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Attracts
-
Bees, Butterflies, Flies, Snails
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Bog Garden, Bouquets, Cottage Garden, 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
Alterative, Anthelmintic, Antidote, Appetizer, Depurative, Diuretic, Hepatitis
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Used As Food
Basketary, Fibre
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Bog Garden, Cutflower, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
IRIS ensata
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Iris
Japanese iris
In Hindi
पोई
Japanese iris
In German
Malabarspinat
Japanese iris
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
iris Xapanese
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
Iris Xapanese
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
ιαπωνική ίριδα
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
íris japonesa
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
japońskie iris
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
Iris Italica
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Asparagales
Family
Basellaceae
Iridaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Importance of Malabar Spinach and Japanese Iris
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Malabar Spinach and Japanese Iris. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Malabar Spinach and Japanese Iris 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 Japanese Iris is Alterative, Anthelmintic, Antidote, Appetizer, Depurative, Diuretic and Hepatitis. Malabar Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: while Japanese Iris has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Malabar Spinach vs Japanese Iris
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 Japanese Iris 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 Japanese Iris have Skin irritation respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Malabar Spinach has showy fruits and Japanese Iris has no showy fruits. Also Malabar Spinach is not flowering and Japanese Iris is flowering. You can compare Malabar Spinach and Japanese Iris facts and facts of other plants too.