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

On Sep 20, 2017, KingSizeFool from Bastrop, LA wrote:

I've grown, served and enjoyed Malabar Spinach for the passed 10 years. Ordered seeds online and the plants reseed every year. My greatest problem is stopping them from taking over the entire garden, but it's well worth the efforts. I have prepared them in soups, stir fry, salads, stews, smoothies and eaten from the vine in the garden.

It grows well in zone 8,love the humidity, rain and heat. I use bamboo trellis, but it grow well with the peppers, tomatoes or in the hedges. Some even comes up in the compost pile next to the wooded shaded area annually which seems to produce the more larger leaves.

I freeze the leaves for later enjoyment, share with friends, neighbors and other gardeners, and all that sampled the spinach enjoyed the experience. The... read more plant have no natural enemies and thrive well in the clay soil and in the more loose fertile ground.

KingSizeDelight

On Feb 7, 2016, janelp_lee from Toronto, ON (Zone 6a) wrote:

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

After cooked, the texture 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!

On Jun 26, 2013, ClaudiaDurand from Barton Creek, TX wrote:

This plant grows really well without much water, even in the hot Texas summer! It soon overcame my small trellis, and began twining around 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 c... read moreolor. Keep your kids away from the berries, as they will delight in smearing them all over their faces and staining their clothes.

On Mar 31, 2013, malihai from Destrehan, LA (Zone 9a) wrote:

love this plant if anyone has seeds to spare contact me at [email protected] thanks

On Sep 17, 2012, FlaFlower from Titusville, FL (Zone 9b) wrote:

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 snail 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

On Sep 17, 2012, izzysgran from stratford ontario,
Canada wrote:

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 will be having it in my Garden.

On Sep 17, 2012, Cougiecat from Baton Rouge, LA wrote:

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, and 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.

On Sep 17, 2012, Gardeningnurse from North Manchester, IN (Zone 5b) wrote:

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 our 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.

On Aug 28, 2010, foodcop from Riverdale, MD wrote:

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 record 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.

On Jul 18, 2009, Buckeyebabe from Ashland, OH wrote:

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 ea... read moreting 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.

On Nov 2, 2008, wtliftr from Wilson's Mills, NC wrote:

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!

On Aug 11, 2008, flowerstar from beirut,
Lebanon wrote:

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.

On Jul 16, 2008, geckoregen from Gold Coast,
Australia wrote:

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.

On Aug 23, 2007, lynnscountryjub from Kingston, TN wrote:

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.

On Mar 2, 2007, berrygirl from Braselton, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

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

On Jun 29, 2006, mgmarcks from Roseville, MI wrote:

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

On Mar 20, 2006, WUVIE from Hulbert, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:

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.

On Apr 14, 2004, foodiesleuth from Honomu, HI (Zone 11) wrote:

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.

On Jun 6, 2003, wpm from Millet, Alberta,
Canada wrote:

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

On Aug 25, 2001, mystic from Ewing, KY (Zone 6a) wrote:

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.