James H. Schutte
Family
Basellaceae
Botanical Name
BASELLA alba
Plant Common Name
Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, Malabar Spinach
General Description
Pretty in flower and with edible, spinach-like foliage, Malabar spinach is a fast-growing vine that has both ornamental and culinary qualities. This heat-tolerant native of India is perennial and fully evergreen where hardy and has densely twining, rambling stems that can become thick and may require some management to keep them from overtaking supports.
The long, fleshy, green stems of Malabar spinach readily twine around anything upright and are lined with rounded, heart-shaped leaves of a medium green. They also root easily and may creep along the ground. Harvest the tender new leaves throughout the season. They have a pleasant, spinach-like flavor and can be eaten fresh or cooked.
Through summer, small pinkish white blossoms appear from leaf bases and develop into fleshy purple-black fruits. The seeds within readily germinate once they drop to the ground and will even sprout after cold winters.
Grow Malabar spinach in full to partial sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Established vines thrive in high heat and humidity and can withstand periods of drought. Specimens grown in frost-free locations will become quite large and require regular pruning to keep vines from taking over. Those grown as annual vines in warm, temperate locations require far less maintenance. The attractive cultivar, 'Rubra', has pleasing purple foliage and reddish purple stems and doubles as an ornamental.
Caution should be taken before growing this vine in warmer climates. It can be quite invasive and spreads by seed and rooted stems.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 7
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 15
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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
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Plant Type
Vegetable
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
8'-15' / 2.4m - 4.6m
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Bloom Time
Indeterminate
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Native To
Southeastern Asia, India
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White, Pink, Light Pink
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Fruit Color
Purple, Black
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green, Dark Green
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Bark Color
Tan
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Edible, Groundcover, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Sometimes
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Self-Sowing
Yes