Malabar Spinach Red Stem Basella Rubra is a tender perennial vine native to the East Indies. Also commonly called Climbing Spinach Vine, Red Vine Spinach, Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach, and Creeping Spinach, this highly attractive vine can be easily started from Malabar Spinach seeds, and Basella Rubra can be grown as a perennial in frost free zones or as an annual in colder zones. The gorgeous combination of deep green leaves, burgundy stems, and violet blooms makes Red Vine Spinach one of the most noticeable plants in a garden.
Malabar Spinach Red Stem is a fast growing, vigorous, climbing, tropical vine that looks wonderful growing in ornamental plantings on posts, fences, hanging baskets, large containers and pots. Basella Rubra seeds have to be planted not deeper than 1/4 inch as they need light to germinate. Despite Indian Spinach is in a different family than spinach, its spinach-like stems and leaves are edible, and they taste like spinach, so Ceylon Spinach is a quiet popular annual leafy vegetable that thrives in hot and humid summer weather.
PLANT PROFILE
Season: Perennial/Annual
Height: 120 Inches
Bloom Season: Summer/Fall
Environment: Sun/Partial Shade
Soil Type: Rich/Moist well-drained, pH 6.5-6.8
USDA Zones: 8-11 (As Perennial) All Regions of North America (As Annual)
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
Sow Indoors: Winter/Spring (6-8 weeks before last frost)
Sow Outdoors: Spring
Seed Depth: 1/4 Inch
Germination Time: 14-21 days, scarify seed to hasten germination
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