Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
Southern Europe, Russia/Siberia, Mediterranean, Central Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
Southeastern Asia, India
Types
Elaeagnus angustifolia
Red Malabar Spinach, Green Malabar Spinach
Habitat
fencerows, Forest edges, mine spoils, Old fields, open Woodlands, Pastures, Roadsides, sand dunes
Hot climate regions, Humid climates
USDA Hardiness Zone
2-8
-9999
Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19
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
Oval or Rounded
Vining/Climbing
Flower Color
White, Yellow green, Silver
Red, Green, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow, Silver
White, Ivory
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Gray Green, Silver
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Purple, Gray Green
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Heart-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
-
Tolerances
Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Vegetative Reproduction
Leaf Cutting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Do not let dry out between waterings, Do Not over Water
Do not let dry out between waterings, Requires consistently moist soil
In Summer
Lots of watering
Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
pruning needed for strong structure
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Nitrogen
Pests and Diseases
Canker, fungus, Insects, Leaf spot, Red blotch, Verticillium Wilt
Aphids
Plant Tolerance
Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Environmental Uses
Wildlife
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
-
Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A, Vitamin C
Part of Plant Used
Whole plant
Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
No
No
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
ELAEAGNUS angustifolia
BASELLA alba
Common Name
Russian Olive
Ceylon Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Malabar Spinach
In German
russische Olive
Malabarspinat
In French
Olive russe
L’épinard de Malabar
In Spanish
oliva ruso
espinaca de Malabar
In Greek
Ρωσική Ελιάς
Malabar Σπανάκι
In Portuguese
Olive russo
Malabar espinafre
In Polish
rosyjski Olive
Szpinak Malabar
In Latin
Russian Olive
Spinach Malabar
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Rhamnales
Caryophyllales
Family
Elaeagnaceae
Basellaceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Importance of Russian Olive and Malabar Spinach
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Russian Olive and Malabar Spinach. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Russian Olive and Malabar Spinach 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 Russian Olive is whereas of Malabar Spinach is Folate, Iron, Low calories, Low Fats, Rich in Potassium, ß-carotene, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Russian Olive has beauty benefits as follows: while Malabar Spinach has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Russian Olive vs Malabar Spinach
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 Russian Olive vs Malabar Spinach 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 Russian Olive are Asthma whereas of Malabar Spinach have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Russian Olive has showy fruits and Malabar Spinach has showy fruits. Also Russian Olive is not flowering and Malabar Spinach is not flowering . You can compare Russian Olive and Malabar Spinach facts and facts of other plants too.