Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Guaiacum officinale
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
10-15
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
H1, H2
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Oval or Rounded
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Gray Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
Olive
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Egg-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Average Water
Consistently
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
Soil pH
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Attracts
-
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
-
Skin irritation
Aesthetic Uses
-
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
-
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Used As Food
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
पोई
Lignum Vitae
In German
Malabarspinat
Lignum Vitae
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
Palo santo
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
pau-santo
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
lignum Vitae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Sapindales
Family
Basellaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
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Importance of Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae 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 Lignum Vitae is . Malabar Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: while Lignum Vitae has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Malabar Spinach vs Lignum Vitae
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 Lignum Vitae 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 Lignum Vitae 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 Lignum Vitae has showy fruits. Also Malabar Spinach is not flowering and Lignum Vitae is not flowering . You can compare Malabar Spinach and Lignum Vitae facts and facts of other plants too.