Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Vegetable
  
Sedge or Rush
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Japan
  
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
  
Lawn, shaded fields, Shaded sites
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
5-10
  
AHS Heat Zone
12*7
  
12-1
  
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
  
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Vining/Climbing
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
  
Tan
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
  
Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
  
Dark Green, Gold
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
  
Dark Green, Gold
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Gray Green
  
Dark Green, Gold
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
  
Dark Green, Gold
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
  
Subulate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Not Available
  
Late Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
  
Rooted stem cutting, stem tip cuttings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
  
Needs more water during establishment, Water Deeply, Water in morning to avoid prompting diseases, Water in the early morning hours
  
In Summer
Average Water
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
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
  
Partial shade, Full Shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune to control growth
  
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K, Less fertilizing
  
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
  
Disease free, Insects, Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Rocky Soil, Shade areas, Variety of soil types, Wet Site
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Insignificant
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
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
  
Fine
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
Yes
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Aphids, Bugs, Mealybugs, Scale Insects
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beautification, Borders, Ground Cover, Landscape Designing
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
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
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
  
Leaves
  
Other Uses
Used As Food
  
Not Available
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Container, Edging, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
  
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
  
CAREX hachijoensis 'Evergold'
  
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
  
Carex oshimensis
Carex morrowii
  
In Hindi
पोई
  
Japanese Sedge
  
In German
Malabarspinat
  
japanische Segge
  
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
  
Japanese carex
  
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
  
juncia japonesa
  
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
  
japanische Segge
  
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
  
Sedge japonês
  
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
  
japoński turzyca
  
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
  
Sedge Italica
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Eudicotyledones
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Poales
  
Family
Basellaceae
  
Cyperaceae
  
Genus
Basella
  
Carex
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available