Botanical name:
Tetragonia tetragonoides
Common name(s):
Kōkihi, New Zealand spinach, tutae-ikamoana
About:
A low-growing trailing plant characterised by its oval, fleshy leaves and producing insignificant flowers over the course of spring to autumn. This hardy plant is commonly found throughout New Zealand, particularly thriving in coastal areas on stony beaches and sandy dunes. Interestingly, the young leaves of this plant can be cooked and enjoyed as a nutritious vegetable, not to dissimilar to the more commonly known garden spinach. Additionally, T. trigyna is a similar species that can also be located in these coastal regions, thriving in similar habitats.
Natural habitat:
This species thrives in the coastal strand zone, typically found along beaches among driftwood and seaweed. It also grows in sand dunes, on boulder and cobble beaches, and on cliff faces and rock ledges. In certain locations, such as the Kermadec Islands, it plays a conspicuous and significant role in the vegetation of many outer islands in the archipelago. Due to its cultivation as a vegetable, this species frequently appears in landfills or as an occasional weed in urban settings. Indeed, some wild populations near coastal urban areas may arise from discarded plants or seeds found in garden waste.
Growing environment:
Sun, Drought, Coastal & Free draining tolerant.
Endemic distribution:
New Zealand’s Kermadec, Three Kings, North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. Also present in Australia, the western Pacific, Malesia, Japan and southern South America.
Height: 20cm
Flowering:
October-February with a green to yellow coloured flower/s
Fruiting:
October-February
Uses:
Forests, Ground cover & Food
How to grow:
Easily grown from seed and once established self-sows freely. A moderately popular vegetable whose seed is sold as New Zealand Spinach. Frost tender but once established usually resprouts from the base when warmer weather returns.
** Seed germinates without pre treatment. Sow seed direct & keep moist until germination is complete.