Basella alba Indian spinach (Basellaceae)

Browse Plants Articles

Power Search!

Browse Botanic Names

Sponsored By KhorWills

Basella alba
Indian spinach
(1 Page of 5)

The Basella alba plant species is found in E. Asia. Africa. It is a member of the Basellaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Indian spinach. Some home gardeners know the variety as B. cordifolia. B. rubra.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Basella alba
Common Name:  Indian spinach
Family:  Basellaceae
Author:  L.

Known Hazards:  None known

Mature Height:  9   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Not known

Cultivation Notes: Requires a well-drained moisture-retentive soil rich in organic matter and a warm sunny sheltered position[200]. Prefers a sandy loam[206]. Tolerates fairly poor soils but does much better in rich soils[206]. Tolerates high rainfall[206]. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.3 to 7. A frost-tender perennial, it is not hardy in Britain but can be grown as a spring-sown annual[200]. It is fast growing[200]. It requires a minimum winter daytime temperature of 15°c if it is to keep growing and tolerates low light levels plus night temperatures occasionally falling below 10°c[206]. Plants do not flower if the length of daylight is more than 13 hours per day[200]. Widely cultivated for its edible leaves in the tropics[200], there are some named varieties[183]. It is an excellent hot weather substitute for spinach[183]. Some authorities recognize three different species, B. alba, B. rubra and B. cordifolia[206], they are all treated here as being part of one species[K].

For further Basella alba gardening information
click on one of the blue links below

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
View their bibliography
Useful Edible Plants Future