Life Span
Annual and Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Aquatics
  
Tender Perennial
  
Origin
India
  
Southern Africa
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
subtropical regions, Tropical regions
  
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
  
8-10
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-6
  
10-8
  
Sunset Zone
21,22
  
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Spreading
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Lavender
  
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Green, Reddish Plum
  
Green, Brown
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green, Gray Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Long Elliptic
  
Grass like
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Very Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Wet Site
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Rhizome division, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
  
Requires regular watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, Damping-off, Root rot
  
Nematodes, Scale
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Yes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Hens
  
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Skin irritation
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Farmland
  
Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Ethnobotanic
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Anti-ageing Benefits, Antidiabetic, Reduces toothache, Skin Diseases
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Shoots, Stem
  
Root
  
Other Uses
Used in curries, soups, stews
  
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Sometimes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Water Gardens
  
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
  
Botanical Name
IPOMOEA aquatica
  
DIETES bicolor
  
Common Name
Swamp Cabbage, Swamp Morning Glory, Water Spinach
  
African iris, Fortnight lily
  
In Hindi
Water Spinach
  
African Iris
  
In German
Wasser-Spinat
  
Afrikanische Iris
  
In French
Épinards d'eau
  
African Iris
  
In Spanish
La espinaca de agua
  
Iris africano
  
In Greek
Σπανάκι νερό
  
Αφρικανική Iris
  
In Portuguese
Espinafre de água
  
Iris africano
  
In Polish
Szpinak wodny
  
Afryki Iris
  
In Latin
Water Spinach
  
African Iris
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Spermatophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Solanales
  
Asparagales
  
Family
Convolvulaceae
  
Iridaceae
  
Genus
Ipomoea
  
Dietes
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Monocots
  
Tribe
Ipomoeeae
  
Irideae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Iridoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available