{"id":320,"date":"2022-09-08T12:51:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T12:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/?post_type=product&p=320"},"modified":"2025-08-03T23:39:37","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T23:39:37","slug":"surinam-spinach","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/product\/surinam-spinach\/","title":{"rendered":"Surinam spinach"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Botanical name:<\/strong>\u00a0Talinum triangulare<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some other names:<\/strong> Waterleaf, Surinam purslane, Ceylon spinach<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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

Surinam spinach (Talinum triangulare<\/i>) is a hardy, short-lived perennial<\/b> (usually lasting 2\u20133 years) that grows into a bushy clump around 40\u201360cm tall<\/b>. In the tropics and warm subtropics, it will produce leaves year-round<\/b>; in cooler regions it may die back in winter, but usually reshoots in spring<\/b> if frosts aren\u2019t too harsh.<\/p>\r\n

Climate & range:<\/b> Naturally found across the tropics of South America and West Africa<\/b>, it tolerates subtropical and even warm temperate climates<\/b> with a bit of winter protection.<\/p>\r\n

Sun & shade:<\/b> It handles full sun<\/b>, but really shines in dappled shade<\/b> or under trees \u2013 producing larger, juicier leaves<\/b> that don\u2019t get tough.<\/p>\r\n

Water & soil:<\/b> Surinam spinach is drought-tolerant<\/b> but grows its best, most tender leaves in the wet season<\/b> or with regular watering. It tolerates poor soils but thrives in rich, well-drained beds<\/b> with a layer of mulch.<\/p>\r\n

Propagation:<\/b> Almost foolproof \u2013 snap off a stem, stick it in damp soil, and it\u2019ll root<\/b>. It also self-seeds<\/b> readily, so don\u2019t be surprised if new plants pop up around the garden each summer.<\/p>\r\n

Containers:<\/b> One of the best spinach plants for pots \u2013 it doesn\u2019t get too rootbound and is easy to move into shelter if winters are harsh.<\/p>\r\n

Basically, once you plant it, Surinam spinach looks after itself<\/b> \u2013 the hardest part is stopping it from giving you more than you need!

<\/p>\r\n

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

Surinam spinach isn\u2019t just hardy \u2013 it\u2019s nutrient dense<\/b>:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Vitamin C<\/b> (great for immunity and healing)<\/li>\r\n
  • Vitamin E<\/b> (a powerful antioxidant for skin and heart health)<\/li>\r\n
  • Beta-carotene<\/b> (the plant form of Vitamin A, for vision and healthy cells)<\/li>\r\n
  • Calcium & magnesium<\/b> (for strong bones and muscles)<\/li>\r\n
  • Potassium<\/b> (for blood pressure balance)<\/li>\r\n
  • Plant-based Omega-3s<\/b> (for inflammation and brain health)<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    In traditional medicine<\/b>, it\u2019s been used as a cooling herb<\/b> to treat fevers and inflammation. Its mucilaginous (slightly slippery) quality when cooked is believed to soothe the digestive tract<\/b> \u2013 handy in times when gut health is important.<\/p>\r\n

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

    Iron Boosting Tonic<\/strong> \u2013 juice blended leaves and drink (often mixed with fruit).
    Cooling Soup<\/strong> \u2013 leaves simmered in broth for fever recovery.
    Poultice for Minor Burns<\/strong> \u2013 crushed leaves applied topically.

    <\/p>\r\n

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

    Surinam spinach leaves are mild, slightly succulent, and very versatile<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n
    • Raw:<\/b> The young leaves are soft and mild enough for salads or sandwiches<\/b>. The pink flowers<\/b> are edible too and add a touch of colour to any dish.<\/li>\r\n
    • Cooked:<\/b> The leaves wilt beautifully in stir-fries, soups, curries, or omelettes \u2013 but add them at the very end<\/b> to keep their texture and nutrients.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      Storage tip:<\/b> Like most leafy greens, Surinam spinach is best eaten fresh. If you harvest more than you can use, store in a damp tea towel in the fridge<\/b> for a couple of days or lightly blanch and freeze<\/b> for later use.<\/p>\r\n

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

      – Backdoor Garden Salad:<\/b> Grab a handful of Surinam spinach leaves and flowers, toss with cucumber, tomato, and a simple vinaigrette.
      – Quick Garlic Stir-Fry:<\/b> Flash-fry chopped Surinam spinach with garlic and soy sauce \u2013 done in two minutes.
      – Egg & Spinach Omelette:<\/b> Add a small handful of chopped leaves just before folding your omelette for colour and nutrients.
      – Surinam Green Smoothie:<\/b> Blend a handful of fresh leaves with banana, mango, and coconut water for a tropical green drink.
      – Leafy Soup Booster:<\/b> Throw in a handful of chopped leaves at the end of cooking soups or stews for a vitamin-rich finish.

      <\/p>\r\n

      Other Uses<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
        \r\n
      • Ground cover & mulch:<\/b> Surinam spinach spreads to form a low mat, suppressing weeds<\/b> and keeping soil cool<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n
      • Animal fodder:<\/b> Chickens, ducks, and even rabbits will happily nibble the leaves.<\/li>\r\n
      • Ornamental value:<\/b> Its pink star-shaped flowers<\/b> make it pretty enough for the front garden \u2013 few will guess it\u2019s an edible spinach.

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

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

        Surinam spinach is tough, productive, and generous<\/b> \u2013 it shrugs off heat, dry spells, and poor soil, and comes back year after year in warm climates. Its mild flavour and high nutrient load<\/b> make it a reliable \u201cgrab-a-handful\u201d green<\/b> for just about any dish. If you only had room for a few edible greens in a survival garden, this one earns its spot<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Surinam spinach is a tough, self-sufficient perennial<\/b> that thrives in warm climates and needs almost no attention to keep producing. Its tender, mild leaves are packed with nutrition and can be eaten raw or cooked, making it a brilliant \u201cpick-and-eat\u201d plant for any survival garden.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":222,"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":[39,40,42,43,44,46],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-320","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-pot-and-container-plants","9":"product_cat-salad-leaves","10":"product_cat-shade-loving-plants","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\/320","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=320"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=320"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=320"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}