3in potted plants, GMO Free, Open Pollinated, Heirloom
Name: Red Malabar Spinach
Scientific Name: Basella rubra
Red Malabar Spinach is a fast-growing, tropical climbing vine known for its vibrant red-purple stems and succulent, glossy green leaves. Despite its name, it is not a true spinach but shares a similar taste with a slightly peppery and citrus-like undertone. The plant thrives in hot, humid climates, making it an excellent alternative to traditional spinach during warm seasons. It produces small pinkish flowers and dark purple berries, which add ornamental appeal to gardens.
Origination: Native to Asia
Historic Uses: Ornamental vine for trellises and edible leafy green
Hardiness: USDA Zones 7–10
Maturity: Blooms seasonally
Other Names: Vine Spinach, Ceylon Spinach, Creeping Spinach
Red Malabar Spinach thrives in full sun and prefers well-draining, fertile soil with a slightly alkaline pH (7–8). Water consistently to maintain moisture, as it prefers humid conditions. Provide a trellis or support for climbing growth. Harvest leaves regularly for continued production, and allow berries to mature for seed collection.
The online world of rare plants is a tricky business. They all grow differently and each have their own challenges and climate preferences. The fact that these are harder to find, not commonly cultivated plants, means people are less familiar with them and come with the preconceived notion that they should always looks perfect. Human manipulated garden center plants are much different than their wild perennial counterparts that have a typical seasonal cycle of vegetate/bloom/decline. Please try to understand these plants are not common garden center plants. We do not have a set up that allows us to grow year-round so we have to grow with the seasons. If you buy a plant out of season, I will typically still send it because it is a perennial plant and will grow again when the climate allows it to grow again. I will never send out a declining annual plant unless I contact you first. Though most of these are easy to grow, they are NOT all beginner plants. If you are unsure when a plant grows best or goes dormant, please don't hesitate to ask me. Some go dormant in winter, some go dormant in summer.
You will receive a plant that is very similar to the plants pictured, however, some plants sell faster than others, so the plant you receive could be larger or slightly smaller than what is shown. Ships in a 3" pot. We put great care into packaging our plants and problems have been VERY rare, but due to the nature of the items shipped, it is possible for leaves or small stems to bend or break in transit but generally this is only cosmetic, and the plant will recover once watered and placed in a bright location (But not direct sun since they just came out of the box!). If your plant arrives rotting or dead, I will replace it for you if possible, or give you a refund if it is not possible. Please contact me within 24 hours of delivery of your plants. It is my duty to get you a live healthy plant- a few broken leaves or small stems not counting as this is a common risk of the shipping process. After 24 hours, my job is done and it is up to you (The buyer) to know how to keep it alive. I have only grown plants in Florida and will send out anything I feel comfortable will grow here. In other words, it is up to you to know the conditions that these plants grow in the part of the country you reside. Please try to understand these conditions before you purchase.
Heat packs are available for purchase with your item to use if cold weather is expected at the time of shipment. (Link to Heat Pack: bit.ly/40ugd4J ) Keep in mind some plants we carry are very tropical and even cold, not freezing, temperatures can kill them. I will cancel any order I feel won't make it safely to its destination without freezing. 📌IF YOU EXPECT COLD WEATHER, PLEASE PURCHASE A HEAT PACK! 📌 I don't make any profit off of them because they are a necessary shipping item in winter.
Basic care instructions are included with your order. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me for any extra advice you may require. We want you to be successful with our babies and I will reasonably do what I can to help you! And if you have any questions about this item or others, please message me and I will gladly answer them.
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Items cannot be shipped to CALIFORNIA or ARIZONA due to state import laws. Any orders from these states will be canceled. My apologies for this inconvenience.
