Ceylon Spinach
Basella alba
- Native to:
- Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, Guam, India, Jawa, Laos, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, New Guinea, Palau, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Vietnam
Joydeep
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Basellaceae
- Genus:
- Basella
- Species:
- Basella alba
- USDA Symbol:
- BAAL2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Vine
- Height:
- 900 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates moderate drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers organic matter-rich soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 10–21 days
- Notes:
- Requires warm soil temperatures above 20°C (68°F) for reliable germination. Seeds may be slow and erratic in cool conditions.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI