{"id":312,"date":"2022-09-08T12:51:06","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T12:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/?post_type=product&p=312"},"modified":"2025-08-04T02:55:39","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T02:55:39","slug":"okinawa-spinach","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/product\/okinawa-spinach\/","title":{"rendered":"Okinawa spinach"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Botanical Name: <\/strong>Gynura bicolor\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some other names:\u00a0<\/strong>Hongfeng cai, Edible gynura<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How to Grow It<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Okinawa spinach (Gynura bicolor<\/i>) is a perennial shrub-like plant<\/b> reaching around 60\u201370\u202fcm high, with lush, slightly crinkled green leaves and striking purple undersides. It\u2019s native to Southeast Asia and thrives in warm, humid regions \u2014 making it a natural star for subtropical and tropical gardens.<\/p>\r\n

Climate & range:<\/b> Best in tropical and subtropical climates<\/b>, where it grows year-round. In cooler climates, it may die back in winter but will generally reshoot in spring. It doesn\u2019t like frost, so in colder areas treat it like an annual or protect it in pots.<\/p>\r\n

Soil & sun:<\/b> Prefers full sun<\/b> for the best leaf colour and growth, but will tolerate light shade, especially in the heat of summer. Grows well in most soils but thrives in moist, fertile, well-drained soil<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

Water & drought tolerance:<\/b> Surprisingly drought hardy<\/b> once established, though it will produce more tender leaves with regular watering.<\/p>\r\n

Planting & propagation:<\/b> Plant in spring<\/b> if you\u2019re in a cooler climate \u2014 in the tropics, you can plant anytime. It\u2019s one of the easiest plants to propagate: just push a stem cutting<\/b> into soil (or even a glass of water) and it will root.<\/p>\r\n

Maintenance tips:<\/b> Trim regularly to keep it bushy and prevent it from getting too \u201cleggy.\u201d It spreads easily and can even climb a low trellis if left untrimmed.<\/p>\r\n

Container friendly:<\/b> Okinawa spinach thrives in pots and tubs<\/b> \u2014 great for patios or balconies. Keep it well-fed and watered, and you\u2019ll have a constant supply of leaves.

<\/p>\r\n

Herbal & Nutrient Value<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Okinawa spinach isn\u2019t just a pretty plant \u2014 it\u2019s packed with nutrition<\/b>. The leaves are rich in protein<\/b> (great for vegetarians), plus vitamins A and C<\/b> for healthy skin, eyes, and immune system support. It also contains iron, calcium, and potassium<\/b> \u2014 all essential for strong bones, energy, and circulation.<\/p>\r\n

Traditionally, it\u2019s been used as a cholesterol-lowering herb<\/b> (hence one of its nicknames, \u201ccholesterol spinach\u201d), and studies back up its potential for supporting heart health. In folk medicine, it\u2019s also praised for helping with inflammation, diabetes, and even cancer prevention<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

Tip:<\/b> Plants with purple pigments like Okinawa spinach are often rich in anthocyanins<\/b>, antioxidants that help fight free radicals and support overall wellness.<\/p>\r\n

Traditional & Home Remedies<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

Leaf\/Stem\/root tea<\/strong> \u2013 made like herbal infusion for digestion, detox and blood building.
Leaf poultice<\/strong> \u2013 applied to wounds or skin lesions for cooling and healing effects.
Folk decoction<\/strong> for hypertension\/diabetes in Taiwan and Malaysia (leaf decoction consumed regularly)

<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Using It in the Kitchen<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

Okinawa spinach is one of those plants that makes you wonder why you didn\u2019t plant it sooner.<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Raw:<\/b> The younger leaves<\/b> are tender and mild \u2014 perfect for salads, sandwiches, and wraps.<\/li>\r\n
  • Cooked:<\/b> Older leaves can be used just like spinach. Just wilt them gently<\/b> \u2014 they can get a bit slippery if lightly cooked, but if cooked thoroughly (e.g. in soups or stocks), they lose the sliminess and become silky instead.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    \ud83d\udca1 Storage tip:<\/b> Harvest as needed \u2014 it stays freshest on the plant. If you must store it, wrap in a damp tea towel in the fridge for 2\u20133 days.<\/p>\r\n

    Simple recipe ideas:<\/b><\/p>\r\n

    – Okinawa Spinach Salad<\/b> \u2013 Toss young leaves with cucumber, tomato, and sesame dressing for a fresh, tangy salad.
    – Garlic Stir-Fry<\/b> \u2013 Flash-fry chopped stems and leaves with garlic, soy, and a splash of sesame oil.
    – Spinach & Egg Soup<\/b> \u2013 Add handfuls of leaves to a light chicken or veggie stock, crack in an egg, and simmer for a quick, healing soup.
    – Okinawa Spinach Pesto<\/b> \u2013 Blitz raw leaves with garlic, nuts, and olive oil for a vibrant purple-green pesto.
    – Creamy Coconut Curry<\/b> \u2013 Add leaves at the last minute to a mild coconut curry for extra nutrition and colour.

    <\/p>\r\n

    Other Uses<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
      \r\n
    • Mulch & soil health:<\/b> Regular trimming provides lush green material for compost or mulch.<\/li>\r\n
    • Animal fodder:<\/b> Chickens and rabbits enjoy the leaves too (in moderation).<\/li>\r\n
    • Ornamental value:<\/b> With its glossy green-and-purple foliage, Okinawa spinach can double as a decorative edging or groundcover<\/b>.

      <\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      Why it\u2019s a survival plant:<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

      Grows with almost no effort<\/b> \u2014 even from simple cuttings.
      Produces all year round<\/b> in warm climates.
      Nutritious, versatile, and attractive<\/b> \u2014 a real \u201cplant once, eat for years\u201d staple.<\/p>\r\n

      If you want a tough, beautiful edible that feeds you nearly year-round<\/b>, Okinawa spinach is one of the better survival garden plants you can grow.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Okinawa spinach is one of the easiest survival plants you\u2019ll ever grow \u2014 a hardy, colourful perennial with tender, nutrient-packed leaves that can be eaten fresh or cooked. Tough, beautiful, and prolific, it\u2019s the kind of plant you\u2019ll plant once and enjoy for years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":228,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"off","neve_meta_content_width":100,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":""},"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[39,40,41,42,43,46],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-312","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-drought-resistant-plants","7":"product_cat-high-nutrition-plants","8":"product_cat-mulch-plants","9":"product_cat-pot-and-container-plants","10":"product_cat-salad-leaves","11":"product_cat-stir-fry-plants","13":"first","14":"instock","15":"shipping-taxable","16":"product-type-simple"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/312","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=312"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=312"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=312"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}