25 Seeds Malabar Spinach Basella Alba Edible Leafy Green Vine Tropical Perennial Easy Grow Container Garden

Malabar Spinach is a fast-growing tropical vine prized for its tender, glossy green leaves and mild, spinach-like flavor. This warm-season plant flourishes in heat and humidity, making it a dependable choice for summer gardens where traditional spinach often bolts. Its vigorous climbing habit and dense, heart-shaped foliage add lush texture and vertical interest to any growing space.

Grow Malabar Spinach as a culinary leafy green for salads, stir-fries, or soups, or train it upward on a trellis, fence, or garden arch for an ornamental edible display. The succulent, juicy stems continue producing tender young leaves throughout the warm season, offering a steady supply of greens when other leafy crops have slowed or stopped. In frost-free climates it persists as a perennial; in cooler regions it performs beautifully as an ultra-productive warm-season annual.
Species: Basella alba
Variety: Malabar Spinach (Green Stem)
Type: Perennial vine; grown as annual in cool climates
Plant Habit: Twining climbing vine
Sun: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Rich, moist, well-drained
Days to Harvest: 70-85 days from seed
Zones: 8-11 (perennial); elsewhere annual
Germination: 10-20 days at 70-85°F
Sowing: Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost or direct sow when soil is warm
Spacing: 12-18 in. apart; support with trellis
Notes: Prefers consistent moisture; pinch tips to encourage branching