{"id":318,"date":"2022-09-08T12:51:06","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T12:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/?post_type=product&p=318"},"modified":"2025-08-03T23:54:49","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T23:54:49","slug":"sambung","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/product\/sambung\/","title":{"rendered":"Sambung"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Botanical name:<\/strong>\u00a0Gynura procumbens<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some other names: <\/strong>Longevity spinach, Sambung Nyawa, Leaf ginseng<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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

Sambung is one of those plants you\u2019ll wonder how you ever gardened without. It\u2019s a hardy perennial shrub<\/b> to about 50<\/b>\u202f<\/b>cm high<\/b>, spreading outward with soft green stems and plenty of juicy leaves.<\/p>\r\n

Climate & range:<\/b> Thrives in tropical and subtropical climates<\/b>, growing all year round<\/b> where there\u2019s no frost. In cooler zones, it may die back over winter but reshoots from the base<\/b> as soon as things warm up.<\/p>\r\n

Sun & soil:<\/b> Sambung will happily grow in full sun or part shade<\/b>. Leaves are juicier and more tender in moist, fertile soil<\/b>, but the plant is remarkably forgiving \u2014 it\u2019ll handle poor soil, dry spots, and even the odd neglectful gardener.<\/p>\r\n

Water & drought tolerance:<\/b> Loves regular water but is drought-hardy<\/b> once established. In dry spells it just slows down, ready to bounce back with the next good rain.<\/p>\r\n

Propagation:<\/b> Very easy. Any stem cutting<\/b> (tip, mid-stem, even a stray piece) will strike roots in soil or water. You can also lift and replant rooted sections \u2014 they take off without complaint.<\/p>\r\n

Container growing:<\/b> Brilliant in pots and tubs. Keep it fed, mulched, and watered<\/b>, and it will reward you with a steady supply of leaves right outside the kitchen door.<\/p>\r\n

Sambung can spread like crazy in the growing season \u2014 which is great for harvesting. If it gets too wild, just cut it back hard<\/b>; it will respond with fresh, tender new growth.<\/p>\r\n

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

Sambung isn\u2019t just another leafy green \u2014 it\u2019s a well-loved medicinal plant across Asia<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Rich in vitamins A, B, and C<\/b> for eye health, immunity, and energy.<\/li>\r\n
  • A source of iron, calcium, potassium<\/b>, and trace minerals that keep the body balanced.<\/li>\r\n
  • Traditionally eaten daily \u2014 often just 3 leaves a day<\/b> \u2014 for overall vitality and longevity.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    In folk medicine, Sambung is called the \u201cLife Extender\u201d<\/b> or \u201cLeaf Ginseng\u201d<\/b> and is used for diabetes, inflammation, prostate health, arthritis, and even cancer support<\/b>. Scientific research is ongoing, but early studies suggest Sambung has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

    Traditional & Home Remedies<\/h2>\r\n

    Diabetes tonic tea<\/strong> \u2013 fresh leaves steeped in hot water; drunk daily.
    Leaf poultice<\/strong> \u2013 mashed leaves applied to cuts, boils, or bites<\/strong>.
    Blood pressure salad<\/strong> \u2013 leaves eaten raw daily (5\u20137 leaves).
    Postpartum tonic<\/strong> \u2013 leaves cooked in soups for recovery.
    Wound wash<\/strong> \u2013 boiled leaves cooled and used as a rinse.

    <\/p>\r\n

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

    Sambung is one of those versatile greens you\u2019ll use in everything<\/b> once you\u2019ve got it.<\/p>\r\n

    Flavour & texture:<\/b> Mild, slightly grassy, and pleasantly \u201cgreen-tasting,\u201d with soft, juicy leaves that don\u2019t overpower a dish.<\/p>\r\n

    How to use it:<\/b><\/b><\/p>\r\n

      \r\n
    • Eat fresh<\/b> in salads, sandwiches, juices, or smoothies.<\/li>\r\n
    • Toss it into stir-fries, omelettes, and soups<\/b> just like spinach.<\/li>\r\n
    • Add leaves to stocks and broths<\/b> \u2014 they release minerals and a subtle flavour without becoming slimy.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      Storage tips:<\/b> Best picked fresh as it wilts quickly, but you can freeze leaves for later or dry them for herbal tea<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

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

      – Longevity Smoothie:<\/b> Blend a small handful of Sambung leaves with banana, pineapple, and coconut water for a refreshing green boost.
      – Quick Garlic Sambung Stir-Fry:<\/b> Toss a big handful of leaves in hot oil with garlic and soy sauce \u2014 a 2-minute side dish.
      – Healing Sambung Tea:<\/b> Steep 5\u20136 leaves in boiling water for 5 minutes for a soothing herbal tea.
      – Sambung Omelette:<\/b> Chop the leaves finely and fold them into eggs with spring onions and cheese.
      – Brothy Sambung Soup:<\/b> Add leaves at the last minute to chicken or veggie broth for extra nutrition and flavour.

      <\/p>\r\n

      Other Uses<\/b><\/p>\r\n

        \r\n
      • Mulch & compost:<\/b> Sambung\u2019s lush growth makes excellent \u201cchop-and-drop\u201d mulch<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n
      • Animal fodder:<\/b> Chickens, ducks, and goats will happily snack on it.<\/li>\r\n
      • Living groundcover:<\/b> Its spreading habit suppresses weeds and protects soil.

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

        Why it\u2019s a survival plant:
        <\/b>
        Low effort, high reward<\/b> \u2013 Sambung thrives with almost no care.
        Year-round harvest in warm climates<\/b> \u2013 fresh greens even in the dry season.
        Food + medicine in one plant<\/b> \u2013 you get nutrition, healing, and resilience in a single patch.<\/p>\r\n

        Sambung is the kind of plant every survival garden should have \u2014 abundant, forgiving, and quietly powerful.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Sambung<\/b>\u00a0\u2014 also called Longevity Spinach<\/b> \u2014 is a hardy, low-maintenance perennial with nutritious, medicinal leaves<\/b> you can eat fresh or cooked. It\u2019s a true survival plant: easy to grow, endlessly productive, and steeped in traditional healing lore.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":225,"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":[39,40,41,42,43,45,46],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-318","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-soups-and-curries","12":"product_cat-stir-fry-plants","14":"first","15":"instock","16":"shipping-taxable","17":"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\/318","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=318"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/225"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=318"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=318"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=318"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=318"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}