Grow a beautiful and productive leafy green with Red Malabar Spinach (Basella rubra). Unlike traditional spinach, this tropical climbing vine thrives in warm weather and produces glossy green leaves with striking deep red stems.

Malabar spinach is valued in many cuisines for its mild flavor and tender texture, making it perfect for salads, stir-fries, soups, and smoothies. The vigorous vine grows quickly and can climb trellises, fences, or garden arches while producing an abundant harvest throughout the summer.

This unique edible vine also doubles as a stunning ornamental plant, adding rich color and vertical interest to vegetable gardens, raised beds, or containers.

Perfect for gardeners looking for a heat-tolerant spinach alternative that keeps producing when traditional spinach bolts.

Plant Details

  25 seeds

Plant Type: Annual climbing leafy green
Scientific Name: Basella rubra
Growth Habit: Vigorous climbing vine
Plant Height: 6–10 ft vines
Days to Harvest: 55–70 days
Leaf Color: Glossy deep green
Stem Color: Deep red / burgundy
Flavor: Mild spinach-like taste
Sun Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
USDA Zones: 7–11 (grown as annual in cooler zones)

Growing Info

• Sowing:
  Start indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost or direct sow after frost when soil is warm.
• Planting Depth:
  ¼ inch
• Spacing:
  12–18 inches apart
• Support:
  Provide a trellis, fence, or stake for climbing vines.
• Soil:
  Rich, well-drained soil with good organic matter.
• Water:
  Keep soil consistently moist for tender leaves.
• Harvesting:
  Harvest young leaves regularly to encourage continuous growth.

Why You’ll Love It

🌿 Thrives in hot weather when regular spinach struggles
🌿 Beautiful red stems add color to the garden
🌿 Fast-growing climbing vine great for trellises
🌿 Continuous harvest all summer
🌿 Tender edible leaves perfect for cooking or salads
🌿 Great for containers, raised beds, or vertical gardens

🌿 Happy growing!