Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India
Southern Africa
Types
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Carissa Carandas
Habitat
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
Coastal bush land, Sandy areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
-9999
9-11
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
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Vining/Climbing
Cushion/Mound-forming
Flower Color
Red, Green, Orange Red
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
White, Ivory
Hot Pink, Magenta, Purple, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Purple, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Purple, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Heart-shaped
Oval to roundish
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
-
Indeterminate
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
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
Average Water Needs
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
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen
Equal amount of N,P,K
Pests and Diseases
Aphids
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Aesthetic Uses
-
along a porch, deck or patio, Ground Cover, small hedge
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
Fruits
Other Uses
Used As Food
Cake, Jam, Jelly, Sauces
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
CARISSA macrocarpa 'Emerald Blanket'
Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
Large Num-Num
In German
Malabarspinat
Natal Plum
In French
L’épinard de Malabar
natal Plum
In Spanish
espinaca de Malabar
Ciruela Natal
In Greek
Malabar Σπανάκι
Natal Plum
In Portuguese
Malabar espinafre
Natal Plum
In Polish
Szpinak Malabar
Natal Plum
In Latin
Spinach Malabar
Natal Plum
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Eudicotyledones
Magnoliopsida
Order
Caryophyllales
Gentianales
Family
Basellaceae
Apocynaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Subfamily
-
Rauvolfioideae
Importance of Malabar Spinach and Natal Plum
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Malabar Spinach and Natal Plum. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Malabar Spinach and Natal Plum 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 Natal Plum is Iron, Potassium and Vitamin C. Malabar Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: while Natal Plum has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Malabar Spinach vs Natal Plum
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 Natal Plum 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 Natal Plum have Mildly Toxic respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Malabar Spinach has showy fruits and Natal Plum has showy fruits. Also Malabar Spinach is not flowering and Natal Plum is not flowering . You can compare Malabar Spinach and Natal Plum facts and facts of other plants too.