PlantFiles: Malabar Spinach, Red Vine Spinach, Creeping Spinach, Climbing Spinach
Basella rubra

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 to 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, 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 way 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 where 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 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 out 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 people, 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....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 then 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 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 it 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
climb 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 one 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 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 animal.
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 edible 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 large 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.