Life Span
Annual and Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Cactus or Succulent
  
Vegetable
  
Origin
Mexico, Caribbean, Central America, South America
  
Southeastern Asia, India
  
Types
Not avilable
  
Basella rubra, L.Basella oleracea, Landw.Basella lucida, L.Basella japonica, Burm.f.Basella cordifolia,
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Desert
  
gardens
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
AHS Heat Zone
Not Available
  
12-7
  
Sunset Zone
Not Available
  
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
Weeping
  
Vining/Climbing
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Dark Salmon, Sandy Brown, White, Yellow
  
White, Pink, Light Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Green
  
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
Not Available
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Alkaline, Neutral, Not Available
  
Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Early Summer, Late Spring, Late Winter, Mid Spring
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Not Available
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
  
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply, Water less during winter
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Not Available
  
Neutral
  
Soil Type
Not Available
  
Clay, Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Not Available
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Not Available
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Not Available
  
Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Requires very little pruning
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Not Available
  
Insects, Mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Yes
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Semi-Double
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
Yes
  
Not Available
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Not Available
  
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
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Itchiness
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Not Available
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
Astringent
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Nut
  
Fruits, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
  
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Houseplant, Lawns and Turf, Mixed Border, Not Available, Tropical
  
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
  
Botanical Name
Selenicereus pteranthus
  
BASELLA alba
  
Common Name
Selenicereus, Moonlight cactus
  
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
  
In Hindi
moonlight cactus
  
भारतीय पालक
  
In German
Selenicereus
  
Indian Spinat
  
In French
Selenicereus
  
épinards indienne
  
In Spanish
Selenicereus
  
espinaca india
  
In Greek
Selenicereus
  
Ινδικό Σπανάκι
  
In Portuguese
Selenicereus
  
espinafre indiano
  
In Polish
Selenicereus
  
Indyjski szpinak
  
In Latin
moonlight cactus
  
Spinach Indian
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Not Available
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Not Available
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Cactaceae
  
Basellaceae
  
Genus
Selenicereus
  
Basella
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Hylocereeae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Cactoideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available