Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Cactus or Succulent
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
South America, Brazil
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
not available
  
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Habitat
Rocky areas, rocky outcrops, Sandy areas
  
gardens
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-15
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
  
12-7
  
Sunset Zone
H2, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
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
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Vining/Climbing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Width
Not Available
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Red, Violet
  
Purple, Black
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Not Available
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Not Available
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Not Available
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Succulent
  
Round
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings, Vegetative
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs less watering
  
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
In Summer
Regular watering required
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, No fertilizers needed
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Not Available
  
Insects, Mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Not Available
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Fruit Bats, Moths, pollinators
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Toxic
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
along a porch, deck or patio, Beautification, Borders, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes, small hedge, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Food for birds
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
No Medicinal Use
  
Astringent
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Whole plant
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant, Used in construction, Used to feed livestock
  
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Showy
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Landscape, Rock Garden, Showy Tree, Wall
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
CEREUS jamacaru
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
mandacaru, cardeiro, Night-blooming Cactus, Pleated Cereus
  
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
mandacaru
  
भारतीय पालक
  
In German
Cereus jamacaru
  
Indian Spinat
  
In French
Cereus jamacaru
  
épinards indienne
  
In Spanish
Cereus jamacaru
  
espinaca india
  
In Greek
Mandacaru
  
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
Mandacaru
  
espinafre indiano
  
In Polish
Mandacaru
  
Indyjski szpinak
  
In Latin
Mandacaru
  
Spinach Indian
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Cactaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Cereus
  
Basella
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Careeae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Cactoideae
  
Not Available