Basella, Climbing Spinach, Creeping Spinach, Malabar Spinach, Red Vine Spinach 'Rubra'

All the Chinese grocery store sell it for leafy vegetable, you can use the stem to grow not the seeds.

After cooked, the ...Read Moretexture is slimy, suppose is good for stomach health. Try this and make sure you like it before growing it! Very easy to grow though.

If you don't like the taste, then sell to local Asian grocery store to make some money!

this is a very easy plant to grow beautiful hanging plant also edible i just cut it up and fold in with my eggs for breakfast also blend ...Read Morewith kale cucumber celery apple for a nice breakfast drink add a little honey for sweetness

This plant grows really well without much water, even in the hot Texas summer! It soon overcame my small trellis, and began twining aroun...Read Mored itself in beautiful twisting patterns. It is a garden stunner, and grows well with other plants on a trellis.

However, the eating isn't much to love. The taste is slightly bitter, which is easily remedied by blanching, but the texture is gelatinous and slimy. Other growers have had sucess- I wonder if the heat has something to do with it. I ended up using the larger leaves as wrappings for some other dishes.

The berries are wonderful as a natural dye. They are slightly bitter, but I boiled down the juice and added sugar before adding it to delicately-flavored foods like fresh whipped cream. It has a strong, bright magenta color. Keep your kids away from the berries, as they will delight in smearing them all over their faces and staining their clothes.

Ignore the people who have posted "yuk, ewww. nasty" on the taste. Like a lot of Americans, they seem to think that just because it has b...Read Moreeen deemed 'spinach' to make it more easy to understand - it must 'taste' like spinach or it's: ew! omg! call a doctor, i've been poisoned!! The taste obviously isn't just of spinach - it is an asian plant afterall. The taste is qite pleasant, nutty, and scrumptous. I (like many) understand that it doesn't have to taste like spinach just because it's in the title.. Enjoy and grow this plant!

love this plant if anyone has seeds to spare contact me at sue_ramachandran@yahoo.com thanks

A neighbor grew this on a wire trellis last year (Portland, Oregon). I don't know how it does in the early season, but in mid-October, t...Read Morehe vines were over 7 feet tall and the few remaining leaves were tasty and succulent eaten raw. No hint of sliminess as others have reported. Could it be due to climatic variables? Beautiful burgundy main stems. I'm growing it this year, for sure.

One of the most disgusting things I have ever put into my mouth, the gelotinous slime I liken to snail snot...although I have yet to try ...Read Moresnail snot personally...I suspect it might even taste better than what you think is suppose to taste some what like spinich with this icky thing, at least with snail snot you know it's not going to taste like spinich!! I ripped it out the next morning, wasn't going to devote ANY space to it. If you like the snoty slime of Okra, you MIGHT like this...but it taste nothing like spinich. Maybe more like pond scum, even that might taste better...I can't even discribe it, that's how bad it was...nasty, nasty, NASTY

This is my first summer to grow it in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Easy to start from seed, beautiful plant , but I would have the same Y...Read MoreUK response to the taste that kpienaar from FL had if I had not added a little apple cider vinegar to it after cooking in oil and garlic. THAT makes it taste like spinach. I was told Asians especially like the very young seed pods. They haven't killed me yet.

I have grown this for the past 3 Years in zone 5b Ontario.it is a very slow grower for me,and never has blooms,so this is the last Year I...Read More will be having it in my Garden.

This plant is easy and pretty enough to grow.

However as an edible plant, the taste is nowhere near spinach and the mucila...Read Moreginous texture is a big turn off for my family.

I tried to convince them to try it, they did and everyone spat it out. Then I said its not bad,they said, ok, now eat this bowl and lets see. I couldn't eat more than a few bites before wanting to throw up.

This plant tastes amazing! I've grown both the green and purple varieties, though the location I have them is doesn't get a lot of sun, a...Read Morend the plant doesn't take off without it. I know it does do well here in South Louisiana because I have friends that have theirs in full sun and they have plenty to spare. Taste wise it is wonderful- like spinach. I've had it as the feature ingredient in salads (of course), curries, quishes, and a variety of other spinach friendly dishes. It's wonderful never having to go buy salad greens even during a Louisiana summer.

So that is what I have! Came up volunteer, don't know from where, but my neighbor does grow unusual things and we have lots of squirrels...Read More. Took off and has been growing like crazy in this summer's awful heat with only a few sprinkles from the outside reach of a sprinkler. Not too invasive, just nicely vining up my back fence, blooming, beautiful foliage. I'll try eating it now.

Grows well in Northern Indiana as well. I love its looks, and taste. Came up volunteer in a small garden I had stopped watering due to ...Read Moreour drought this summer. What was a little disaster is now beautiful w/ it rambling up a few bamboo poles I added after it showed. I believe the seeds overwintered in my compost pile (this is from 2 yrs ago). I agreee it has all the tendencies to be invasive if left unchecked, but for now, I love it. The long vines also make a beautiful arangement down a long table.

Bought a couple of 4-6" plants online from a nursery in Ohio. Put them in the south window. We live in Michigan. That was done the fir...Read Morest week of April. By the first week of July (3mths later) they were over 9ft long. I took down the window blinds, draped the spinach over a curtain rod. Looks so beautiful! Have a ton of seeds. Hoping to keep as houseplant, but have noticed the large, mature leaves towards the bottom are turning bronze/purple/golden - pretty, but not typical. She's still putting out more seeds/purple berries. What should I do to keep her alive? I'm really new at growing indoor veggies. This malabar would probably do awesome in a topsy turvy holder.

Bought seed this past winter and direct sown in late May in a pile of compost over a newly removed red maple tree's roots. We have had re...Read Morecord breaking heat all summer and this vine is a champ. Growing on three bamboo poles it's easily 8 feet tall and it has toughed out the full sun and limited water. We've harvested large leaves twice this year. Sautéed with a little butter a lot of leaves cook down much like spinach, we tossed with cubes of frying cheese from Trader Joes - this is a keeper. I'll harvest seed and some vines to overwinter for next year. Highly recommend as a two function plant.

I bought a plant at a Farmer's Market last year and planted it since anything pretty and edible is right up my alley! It grew very well ...Read Moreon a small trellis right into June when it stayed consistently over 100°. It died back and when the temps started to cool off around October it came back from the roots, along with several volunteers I potted up and gave away. Did well until frost. I did manage to save seeds but may not need them as I have volunteers popping up in the garden and in the compost pile. I have read that seeds germinate best when temps are around 75°. Seed coat is hard so soaking is recommended but not necessary judging by the number of seeds that fell to the ground and sprouted. Very beautiful vine and taste is excellent as well. Highly recommend this vine as a spinach substitute in warmer regions...

I live in Ohio. I bought the seeds for this plan from someone who claimed that it originated here in Ohio at Malabar Farms. I was trying ...Read Moreto mostly plants from around this region so I thought that this was quite a cool novelty. It has been growing great! It's beautiful yet very controlled. I have it growing in a large pot with a decorative tower trellis. So I got online last night to look up more information about the plant to see when we can start picking leaves (This is my first year of gardening) Only to find out that it originated in Indonesia and that in some climates this vine can grow a foot a day. That it likes sandy soils, and warm climates. Plus the berries can be used as food coloring since they have a purple/red juice that can stain. So it doesn't sound like they are much for eating by themselves, but they are edible and usable in foods. There are a bunch of recipes for this plant out there. It's mostly recommended for cold dishes since I guess it looses most of its color when cooked. It is also recommended for use in quiches and omelets. I will try some of this later and report. I just found this site and noticed that most of the people reporting on it were in warmer areas. Just wanted to point out that it has been working great here in Ohio. I don't think that there is much of a chance of this becoming a weed out here since it probably couldn't last the winter. But I will be careful all of the same.

I've grown this plant in Cameroon (west Africa, rainforest area) on an acid soil (pH 5--and I'm a soil scientist). It was in a very warm,...Read More humid lowland environment. It did quite well. I add this because this plant is not only for medium pH or drier environs.

It's a great spinach substitute that can be eaten cooked or raw. As spinach requires cooler climates, this is a very good alternative. Comes in both purple-stemmed and green varieties, with the green being more prolific. Add some color to your salads and get a little of both.

I just got a few small cuttings of this plant last week, and I've got them in a cup of water to grow roots (was told this also is a good ...Read Moreway of propagation). I'm looking forward to having them in a small garden next spring. I do have a question, though. I know about the leaves and stems being edible, but what about the berries? Are they toxic, or just taste bad, or are they indeed edible? I'm trying to create my own in-depth database of edible plants, and their edible parts.
Any help will be appreciated!

I want to echo Geckoregon's concerns about this plant being a potential weed. Rampant growth, re-seeds, birds love the seeds, roots ...Read Morewhere it touches the ground... all the ingredients for disaster. The one thing going in its favor (to counter the invasive tendancies) is that it is palatable to people and animals. People, please check your state's invasive plant list and be sure this plant is not listed or on the watch list. Interesting note about use as a cure for stomatitis. Makes me want to give it a try, but I doubt I will.

this plant is one of the most loved leafy vegetable in the Islands of Philippines. It is very edible and nutritious. It grows anywhere in...Read More the islands and last for a life time. It doesn't need that much care, just some water twice a week would be fine.

We grew this in the Houston area. It grew very well and tasted good sauteed. BUT, it reseeded itself everywhere and we had to weed it ou...Read Moret of all the garden. It took several years to get rid of it.
If trimmed and controlled, it might be a good food plant but it will spread by seed very, very easily in that climate.

I saw this plant growing unchecked along a river in north eastern NSW (Australia) where it was smothering trees 10-15m high! Watch out pe...Read Moreople, the traits of hardiness, self propagation and rapid growth are characteristics of a weed. Please make sure you dispose of any waste in a responsible manner to prevent it from becoming a pest in your area.

These can be grown in my region as an annual. I've the reddish stems vines that could climb up trellis, or just serve as ground cover......Read More.selfsown seedlings are prolific which need no winterprotection here. In colder climate, these seeds can be collected and stored for spring sowing. This is indeed edible (the leaves and stems), birds love the seeds.

aug.23,2007
i had an extremely busy spring. but i saw some seeds at a nursery and they looked interesting. i planted them and th...Read Moreen ignored them. we have been in an extreme draught here in east tennessee. so while i was busy and not watering, nothing happened and i thought i lost the seeds. but i have watered about everyother day, starting in july and i have a couple of plants that have florished, one over 6 feet tall!. tonight i had some for the 1st time. it is very much like spinach or even swiss chard, but "meatier". i quick sauted it. i am also very excited about it reseeding it's self! i am always on the lookout for great perenials and plants that reseed.

This plant is gorgeous. I planted two plants in a five gallon bucket, and it did ok. Its roots found their way out of the drain holes and...Read More into the soil, then hoo boy did it ever take off. Its growing delightedly in a narrow garden protected from morning and evening sun.
In the spring, it got left out during a night that dropped into the 40's. The leaves it had turned bronze and spotty, but didn't die. And it quickly recovered and continued growing. The vines become thick and a bit awkward, and needs to be draped back over the branches of the dead bush its living on. It roots readily when it touches soil.

Heat-loving perennial from India. Red leaf veins and stems, free-branching climber. Cut sprouts to eat as greens. Regrows rapidly. 50-70 days.

This is a beautiful ornamental vine reseeds easily. Edible leaves can be eaten raw or cooked like spinach.

It germinated almost immediately and grows taller and taller every day. Very easy to grow in Port St Lucie, FL 34986 zone 10

I live in Missouri and was introduced to Malabar spinach six years ago. It has seeded itself every year and we loved it cooked. When raw ...Read Moreit has a real fleshy texture my wife doesn't like but I pick and munch on it while working in the garden. It fills a large trellis, thickly, and is good to the first frost.

As an avid sandwich eater, this plant is right up my alley!

Planted near the porch, in full sun with something to
...Read Moreclimb on makes it very easy to simply walk outdoors, snap
off a few leaves and add them to your sandwich.

Very attractive and especially beautiful when cared for.

Last year I planted some on our gourd arbor and paid
very little attention. It responded by doing quite well.
This year I will bring it closer to home and enjoy it
even more.

The leaves of this plant is edible and is a reputed remedy for 'Stomatitis' -- mouth ulcers. It's easy growing and useful vine to have in backyard.

April 14, 2004 - Honomu, HI

I have been growing this vine for about 10 years now and we love it. Just recently got a red ...Read Moreone for the first time. Fast grower on a trellis. Beautiful shinny colored leaves. We love to eat it raw in mixed salads or wrapped with other greens and herbs in warm flour tortillas. Also cooked as you would regular spinach. We receive more rain in a month than some people get in a year and it still thrives.

This plant is both heat and drought tolerant. I began to grow it as fodder for a very large green iguana, as it is a nutritious leaf with...Read More many minerals. In a pot, it was pretty unhappy; planted out, it turned into a very lovely (if rampant) fence-cover. Good color and texture of foliage.
It has self-seeded, and the seedlings are beginning to ramble already.
As a fodder for humans, the juice of the leaf has a somewhat gluey or slimy consistency - sort of creepy if you are just grazing in the garden, but not noticeable if it is in a bowl of greens. I have not tried it cooked, but have been told that it is quite reminiscent of spinach (well, that's better raw, anyway!).

I would like to know more about this plant. As it is edible, I need to know if there are any parts of the vine that would be toxic to an...Read Moreimal.
the reason for this is I would like to put vines on the highway fences to keep drivers from losing their attention by looking at our animals as they are driving 70 mph down our highway! It is a very busy highway!! and some people have been killed right at our corner. I want to avoid any more mishaps. You see...we have elk, and they will browse on what is planted on the fence, so...I would like to know.

Also, I am in Canada (not quite the frozen north) near Edmonton, Alberta so I need hardy type of vine.
Thanks

Has proven itself to be a flavorful replacement for spinach in Zone 7b where real spinach quickly goes to seed. Ornamental as well as ed...Read Moreible and worthy of a trellis to show off the colorful burgandy vines, dark green leaves and purple berries. Self seeds for the following season. Thin seedlings in mid-spring

Malabar Spinach is not really a spinach at all, but the taste is similar and it is better suited to summer growing than real spinach.The ...Read Morelarge meaty,leaves are spinach-like in flavor and is very heat tolerant.The berries are fleshy and purplish black and the juice is sometimes used as a dye.This is a fast growing vine great to cover an ugly spot in a hurry,should be planted where it can climb.Will do fine in the shade but the leaves will not turn purple/red the stems will still get red but not as much as they do in full sun. This self-seeded for me this year, had it coming up in several places. But easy to pull and start someplace eles also easy to do cuttings from.