Bring color and fresh leafy greens to your container garden with Okinawa spinach. Its green leaves reveal purple undersides, making this tropical perennial as attractive in a patio pot as it is useful in the kitchen. Start with a small live plant and grow it on in a warm, sheltered spot.
- Edible young leaves and tender shoots for salads and cooked dishes.
- Distinctive green-and-purple foliage for an edible ornamental display.
- Suitable for containers, with the option to move indoors before cold weather.
What's in the Pack
One live Okinawa spinach starter plant, approximately 3–8 inches tall, in a nursery pot that is 3 inches deep. This is a rooted young plant, not seeds or a mature specimen. Plant shape and leaf count vary naturally. The first image illustrates a starter plant; the foliage close-up shows established growth, not the size supplied.
Growing Information
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Plant: Okinawa spinach, the purple-backed leaf form commonly sold as Gynura crepioides and also known as Gynura bicolor.
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Life cycle: Tender perennial; grow as a warm-season annual or overwinter indoors in colder climates.
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Light: Full sun to partial shade. Afternoon shade can help in hot locations.
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Soil and water: Use well-drained soil with organic matter. Maintain even moisture without waterlogging.
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Spacing: Allow about 18–24 inches between established outdoor plants.
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Cold protection: Protect from frost and freezing temperatures.
Planting & Care
- Unpack promptly. Check the potting mix and water if it is dry.
- Let the plant settle in bright, sheltered light, then gradually introduce it to its growing position.
- Plant at the same soil level in a larger container with drainage, or outdoors after frost risk has passed.
- Once established, pinch young shoot tips for a bushier plant and harvest lightly while it grows.
- Bring container plants indoors to a bright location before cold weather.
FAQ
Is this regular spinach?
No. Okinawa spinach is a tropical leafy vegetable, distinct from Spinacia oleracea. Wash harvested leaves before preparing them.
Why a live plant rather than seeds?
Cultivated Okinawa spinach is normally propagated from cuttings. A rooted starter gives you the purple-backed foliage form shown.
Can I order in winter?
Order only when overnight lows in your area remain above 35°F. This tender plant is not suitable for freezing transit conditions. No heat pack is included.
Where is delivery available?
Delivery is limited to the contiguous United States and Washington, DC. Alaska, Hawaii, US territories, and APO/FPO addresses are excluded.
