Malabar Spinach Seeds
Herb Specifications
Season: Perennial
USDA Zones: 8 - 11
Height: 120 inches
Bloom Season: Mid summer
Bloom Color: Purple & White
Environment: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Type: Prefers moist, fertile soils, high in organic matter, pH 6.5 to 6.8
Deer Resistant: No
Latin Name: Basella Rubra
Planting Directions
Temperature: 65 - 75F
Average Germ Time: 14 - 21 days, scarify seed to hasten germination
Light Required: Yes
Depth: Plant seeds 1/4 inch deep
Sowing Rate: 1 -2 seeds per plant
Moisture: Keep seeds moist until germination
Plant Spacing: 9 - 12 inches
Malabar Spinach (Basella Rubra) - If you are looking for a different flavor from traditional spinach, then this gorgeous combination of deep green leaves set against burgundy stems and violet blooms will be perfect in your herb garden. Edible leaves grown from Malabar Spinach seeds can be used throughout summer and will flourish in heat and humidity. Young leaves of this herb plant can be cooked and added to recipes and fresh leaves make a great salad. It is also commonly referred to as Climbing Spinach Vine, Red Vine Spinach or Creeping Spinach.
Vining herb
Climbing to 10 feet or more, Malabar Spinach is a lovely vine for trellises and arbors. This herb is one of the very few garden herbs that is a vining plant.
Herb seed | malabar spinach
Plant specifications
Red-stemmed and pretty in flower, red Malabar spinach is a fast-growing vine that has both ornamental and culinary qualities. Red Vine Spinach requires a trellis or other support for the twining vine.
A native of India, Malabar Spinach is a fully evergreen tender perennial herb with densely twining, rambling stems that can become thick and often require management to keep them from overtaking supports. Grow these herb seeds as a perennial in frost free zones and as an annual herb in colder zones.
- Sowing Rate: 1 - 2 seeds per plant
- Average Germ Time: 14 - 21 days
- Keep moist until germination
- Attracts bees and butterflies
- Depth: 1/4 inch
How to grow
How To Grow Malabar Climbing Spinach: Once frost danger has passed, plant the Malabar Spinach seeds directly in the herb garden. Some gardeners recommend scarifying the herb seeds to improve germination. Cover the Basella Rubra seeds with 1/4 inch of soil and keep the soil adequately moist.
- Height: 120 inches
- USDA Zones: 8 - 11
- Season: Perennial
- Deer Resistant: No