Basella rubra. This is not a true spinach, but its leaves are a great addition to the southwestern vegetable garden because it likes hot weather, unlike regular spinach, lettuce, etc. Though it is heat tolerant, it is not drought tolerant ... it does prefer moist soil and loves humidity. Good for monsoon planting. Red Malabar is also a beautiful vining plant with dark red stems and deep green leaves that could be grown simply for its ornamental characteristics. But who could resist eating it too? Train it up a trellis or fence and harvest leaves for your salad or stirfry throughout the season. Malabar spinach is rich in vitamins A, C, iron and calcium, and is a good source of soluble fiber. Not from our Seed Bank collection, but your purchase supports our conservation mission. Approx. 1g/40 seeds per packet.
