Malabar Spinach
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Red Malabar Spinach is not a true spinach at all, but a vigorous Asian vine (Basella rubra) that thrives in heat where conventional greens surrender. Its dark red stems twine upward to 7 feet, producing succulent deep green leaves that deliver abundant nutrition all summer long. This heirloom variety reaches harvest maturity in about 70 days and grows as a tender annual in most regions, though it survives year-round in Zone 10. What makes it truly special is its dual purpose: it's as ornamental as it is edible, with attractive red-purple stems and delicate pink flowers that make it a stunning trellis specimen even as you harvest greens for salads, stir-fries, and smoothies.
Full Sun
High
10-10
84in H x 10in W
Annual
High
Hover over chart points for details
Red Malabar Spinach delivers the rare gift of being genuinely beautiful to look at while also feeding you abundantly. Those vivid red-purple stems and glossy green leaves create visual interest in a garden bed or container, yet the plant's real talent is heat tolerance, it produces gobs of tender, succulent greens when regular spinach and lettuce have bolted and quit. The vining habit means it climbs easily up a trellis or stake, making efficient use of vertical space. Unlike true spinach, it actually prefers moisture and humidity, thriving during hot, humid periods when most greens struggle. You harvest frequently when leaves are young, and the plant keeps producing for months.
Red Malabar Spinach leaves shine in raw salads where their mild, succulent texture adds bulk without asserting a strong flavor. They excel in stir-fries, where they wilt beautifully and absorb accompanying flavors, and they're particularly prized for thickening curries, soups, and stews with their natural mucilaginous quality. The leaves are also excellent blended into smoothies for a nutritious green boost without an aggressive spinach taste. Beyond the kitchen, the plant itself serves as a living privacy screen or ornamental trellis accent, combining edible productivity with genuine garden beauty.
Start seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost date, using soil temperature between 70 and 85°F. Keep seedlings warm and provide bright light once they emerge.
Transplant outdoors only after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed to at least 70°F, ideally closer to 75°F or warmer. Harden off seedlings gradually over 7-10 days before moving them to the garden. Space plants 1 inch apart, with 36 inches between rows.
Direct sow seeds outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil temperature reaches 70°F. Use row cover to improve germination and prevent soil crusting. Thin seedlings as soon as 2-3 true leaves form, following spacing guidelines for transplanted plants.
Begin harvesting leaves about 70 days after planting, once plants are established and producing actively. Harvest greens frequently and when young for the best texture and flavor; mature leaves can become tougher. Pinch off individual leaves from the top of stems or remove entire leaf clusters, always leaving at least some foliage on the plant to continue growth. The more you harvest, the more the plant produces, so regular picking is both encouraged and rewarded with abundance. Continue harvesting throughout the growing season until frost arrives.
Because Red Malabar Spinach is grown as a vining plant, provide a sturdy trellis, stake, or support system early in the growing season and gently guide vines upward as they emerge. Pinch back the growing tips if you want to encourage bushier, more compact growth, though the vining habit is generally desirable for maximizing vertical space and ornamental appeal. Regular harvesting of leaves serves as a form of pruning and encourages the plant to produce more foliage.
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“Red Malabar Spinach originates from tropical regions across Asia, where it has been cultivated for generations as both a food crop and ornamental. Its preservation as an open-pollinated heirloom reflects a long tradition of Asian gardeners who valued plants that could withstand intense heat and humidity while producing nutritious greens. The fact that it's been maintained as a true-breeding landrace speaks to its importance in home and market gardens throughout Asia, where gardeners recognized its superiority over true spinach in warm climates. Today, seed companies like Baker Creek and Hudson Valley Seed have championed this variety precisely because it solves a real problem: how to grow fresh greens when summer temperatures soar.”