Surinam Spinach
talinum triangulare

days to maturity:
plant spacing: 1 plant every 2 feet
sunlight requirements: 6-14 hours
look out for: caterpillars and slugs
harvest notes: harvest whole branches of new growth
perennial

Surinam spinach has bright green, slightly tangy, crunchy leaves and dainty pink flowers. It is ornamental enough to use in a flower garden. Use it raw in salads or tossed in at the end of a stir-fry. Although it is an annual it self-sows quite readily and will root very easily from stems just stuck into the ground, so it is easy to keep a continuous supply. It is a low bushy plant between 30 and 100 cm tall. It grows and thrives in partial shade and high soil moisture. It might look familiar because of its oblong shaped paddle-like succulent leaves, and that’s because its a very close relative to purslane, a very popular and nutritious edible weed that is very hearty and thrives in challenging climates throughout the world.