New Zealand spinach is warm season alternative to regular spinach that does well in hot, dry conditions. It is an annual, low-growing, weak-stemmed leafy plant that prefers warm weather and grows well in well-drained, sandy soils, rich in organic matter. It is a nutrition dense vegetable which is found used in several food items from long time.
| Name | New Zealand spinach |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tetragonia tetragonioides |
| Native | Argentina, Australia, Chile, Japan, and New Zealand |
| Common/English Name | Tetragonia, ice plant, everbearing spinach, everlasting spinach, perpetual spinach, Della Nuova Zelanda, Botany Bay spinach, Cook’s cabbage, kōkihi, New Zealand spinach, sea spinach, and tetragon |
| Plant Growth Habit | Annual, low-growing, weak-stemmed leafy plant |
| Growing Climate | Heat-resistant, warm weather plant that is frost sensitive. |
| Soil | Well-drained, sandy soils, rich in organic matter |
| Plant Size | 1 to 2 feet tall and Spread 1 to 3 feet |
| Root | Shallow-rooted |
| Leaf Shape & Size | 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, succulent, triangular- to oval-shaped leaves, smaller and fuzzier than regular spinach. The leaves are thick, and covered with tiny papillae that look like water drops on the top and bottom of the leaves. |
| Leaf Color | Pale to dark green color |
| Leaf Flavor | Similar to other spinaches |
| Flower | Small yellow flowers |
| Fruit | Fruit is a small, hard conical capsules covered with small horns. Within the capsule there are several seeds. |
| Varieties/Types | Maori |
| Major Nutrition | Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 525.6 µg (438.00%) Manganese, Mn 0.947 mg (41.17%) Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) 0.427 mg (32.85%) Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 28.8 mg (32.00%) Copper, Cu 0.139 mg (15.44%) Iron, Fe 1.19 mg (14.88%) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.193 mg (14.85%) Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 2.21 mg (14.73%) Magnesium, Mg 58 mg (13.81%) Sodium, Na 193 mg 12.87% |
| Health Benefits |
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| Calories in 1cup (100gm) | 22 Kcal |