{"id":324,"date":"2022-09-08T12:51:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T12:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/?post_type=product&p=324"},"modified":"2025-08-03T22:25:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T22:25:36","slug":"tree-spinach","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/product\/tree-spinach\/","title":{"rendered":"Tree spinach"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Botanical Name:<\/strong>\u00a0Abelmoschus manihot<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some other names:<\/strong>\u00a0Tree lettuce, Hibiscus Spinach, Slipper Cabbage, Aibika, Ibika<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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

Tree spinach (Abelmoschus manihot<\/i>) is a fast-growing, leafy perennial shrub<\/b> that can reach around 2 metres<\/b> tall, with large, soft leaves that look almost tropical. In the right spot, it will pump out edible leaves for months on end.<\/p>\r\n

Climate:<\/b> Loves subtropical to tropical<\/b> climates but will grow in warm temperate<\/b> regions too. In cooler areas, it might die back to the ground or need to be treated as an annual<\/b>, but it almost always bounces back if frost isn\u2019t too severe.
Sun:<\/b> Thrives in full sun<\/b> but tolerates partial shade<\/b> (just expect slightly fewer leaves).
Soil & water:<\/b> Prefers well-drained soil<\/b> but isn\u2019t fussy \u2013 it will grow in less-than-ideal dirt and even handle drought<\/b>once established. Still, give it water and mulch in the growing season, and it will reward you with lush growth.
Season:<\/b> Best planted in spring or early summer<\/b>, when the soil is warm.
Propagation:<\/b> The easiest way is tip or stem cuttings<\/b> \u2013 cut 10\u201320cm stems, strip the leaves, and plant them directly in pots or the ground (best done after rain or with plenty of watering). It also strikes easily in water if you like to see roots form before planting.<\/p>\r\n

Tip:<\/b> Tree spinach is perfect for large pots<\/b> \u2013 keep it well fed and watered, and you\u2019ll have a near-endless supply of leaves right by the kitchen door.

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

\"\"\r\n
A second variety of Tree Spinach growing in my garden

<\/em><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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

Tree spinach is incredibly nutritious<\/b> \u2013 a genuine powerhouse green<\/b>:<\/p>\r\n

    \r\n
  • Very high in protein<\/b> \u2013 a rare trait for a leafy plant, making it especially valuable in vegetarian or survival diets.<\/li>\r\n
  • Packed with Vitamins A, B & C<\/b> \u2013 supporting vision, immunity, energy, and skin health.<\/li>\r\n
  • A great source of calcium, potassium, iron & magnesium<\/b> \u2013 all vital for strong bones, heart health, and general vitality.<\/li>\r\n
  • Contains mucilage<\/b> \u2013 a soothing, gel-like compound that helps detoxify the body and support digestion<\/b>.

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

    Traditional & Home Remedies<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n

    Postpartum soup (PNG & Pacific Islands):<\/strong> Leaves boiled with coconut milk for new mothers<\/strong> to regain strength.
    Leaf poultice:<\/strong> Crushed fresh leaves applied to sores and skin irritations<\/strong>.
    Aibika leaf broth:<\/strong> Drunk for anemia and weakness<\/strong>.

    <\/p>\r\n

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

    Tree spinach is one of those plants you\u2019ll use constantly once it\u2019s growing<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n

      \r\n
    • Young leaves:<\/b> Mild, slightly crunchy, and great raw<\/b> \u2013 perfect in salads and sandwiches<\/b>.<\/li>\r\n
    • Older leaves:<\/b> Best cooked<\/b> \u2013 add to soups, quiches, curries, casseroles, or even use as a spinach substitute.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      Cooking tip:<\/b> Only cook briefly (just a minute or two) unless you want a slimier texture \u2013 the mucilage thickens dishes<\/b>, which can be brilliant in soups or stews.<\/p>\r\n

      Storage:<\/b> Pick leaves fresh as needed \u2013 they wilt quickly, so don\u2019t harvest more than you\u2019ll use in a day or two.<\/p>\r\n

      Simple recipe ideas<\/b><\/h3>\r\n

      – Tree Spinach Salad Wraps:<\/b> Use large raw leaves to wrap chopped veggies, rice, or cooked meats.
      – One-Minute Stir-Fry:<\/b> Toss young leaves with garlic and soy for 60 seconds \u2013 done!
      – Thickening Soup:<\/b> Drop in a handful of chopped older leaves in the last few minutes of cooking to give body to soups and stews.
      – Tree Spinach Omelette:<\/b> Wilt the leaves for 30 seconds, then fold them through beaten eggs with cheese.
      – Creamy Curry Boost:<\/b> Stir chopped leaves into coconut-milk-based curries \u2013 they\u2019ll absorb flavour beautifully and naturally thicken the sauce.

      <\/p>\r\n

      Other Uses<\/b><\/h3>\r\n
        \r\n
      • Mulch maker:<\/b> Tree spinach can be chopped back hard and the prunings used as mulch \u2013 the plant loves the haircut and bounces back fast.<\/li>\r\n
      • Animal fodder:<\/b> Chickens, goats, and other livestock happily eat the trimmings.<\/li>\r\n
      • Garden filler:<\/b> Its big, leafy shape looks great among ornamentals, and it\u2019s useful as a windbreak or shade plant for smaller veggies.

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

        Why it\u2019s a survival plant:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\r\n

        Tree spinach is ridiculously hardy<\/b>, strikes from almost any cutting, and produces nutrient-dense greens for months on end<\/b>. If you had to choose just a few plants to rely on for ongoing food, this one would absolutely earn a spot.<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Tree spinach is a tough, productive perennial shrub<\/b> that grows up to 2 metres tall and churns out nutrient-packed leaves almost all year round. Hardy, versatile, and easy to grow, it\u2019s a top-tier survival plant<\/b> for anyone wanting a steady supply of greens with minimal fuss.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":185,"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":[40,49,41,42,43,45,46],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-324","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-high-nutrition-plants","7":"product_cat-in-stock","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\/324","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=324"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=324"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=324"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=324"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/survivalfoodplants.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}