Longevity and Okinawa Spinach Combo Sale

You will receive two (2) WELL-ROOTED Live Plants. The plants will be shipped without soil, wrapped with a damp paper towel and plastic wrap. 

Longevity Spinach Background 

Longevity Spinach is a perennial low maintenance, fast growing plant. The leaves are used in salads, soups, and can be made into teas as well. Several studies have shown that longevity spinach can be used as a helpful herbal dietary supplement to promote healthy levels of blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure. 

Its scientific name is gynura procumbens, but it is also known as “longevity spinach” or “cholesterol spinach.” The plant is native to southeast Asia, and is widely known for its nutritional and medicinal values. Proponents claim it fights a variety of ailments, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even cancer. However, I feel it is worth growing just to eat. This plant is quite hardy and prolific. Once established, it will grow almost as fast as you can pick it.

How to Grow Longevity Spinach

Growing longevity spinach is quite similar to Okinawan spinach. You can easily start plants from cuttings. I find you don’t even have to start roots in water; you can just insert fresh cuttings directly into the soil about five inches, and it usually takes. Just make sure it’s kept well-watered while it grows roots. You can grow it in containers quite well if you have limited space, or plant a whole garden bed. It requires minimum upkeep and is easily harvested by pinching off the end leaves. I find that this variety of spinach grows better in partial shade. It will grow in the full sun, but the leaves are more tender when it’s in some shade. The leaves will also be more tender if you keep it watered regularly.

Uses of this spinach are varied, and it can be eaten raw or cooked. I have even boiled a whole potful with salt and butter added, and found it similar to eating southern collard greens. Some people think the taste of longevity spinach is strong, but I found I got used to it. I actually prefer it to iceberg lettuce now. I use it on almost every day on sandwiches, in salads, and mixed in with stir fried vegetables.

Okinawa spinach (Gynura crepioides)

Okinawa spinach (Gynura crepioides) is a leafy vegetable that was relatively unknown in the U.S. until recent years. It has rapidly gained in popularity as more people grow it and become familiar with its uses. In warm climates the plant is perennial, and will provide harvests for many years. The growth habit is upright to spreading, with the longest stems tending to flop over and trail on the ground.

Overall plant height is around 1-2 feet. The plant grows rapidly and can be kept in bounds by frequent harvest of the longest stems. The colorful leaves are olive-green with a purplish-red underside and a pleasantly pungent flavor. The leaves and young stems can be eaten raw or cooked. This is an excellent salad green, or use the leaves on sandwiches in place of lettuce. Stems can be chopped in soups, stews, or vegetable medleys in the same way you would use celery. Leaves hold their color and texture well when cooked, making this a good choice for those who don't like the mucilaginous texture of many other cooked greens. 

How to Grow Oninawa Spinach

Okinawa spinach grows well in full sun or part shade. Growth stops in cold weather, and a hard freeze will kill top growth, but in spring the plant quickly regenerates from the root system. It is recommended for USDA Zones 9-11, but can be grown as an annual or in containers in colder locations. In spring the plants go through a flowering cycle when little leafy growth occurs, but the plant is covered in orange blooms, attracting Monarch butterflies to the nectar.

Refund Policy and Satisfaction Guarantee

If for your item is damaged during shipping and unusable for any reason, just email us a picture and we will provide a full refund. Also, if for whatever reason the item does not meet your expectations upon delivery, let us know why, and we will refund you. This refund even includes the price we paid for shipping. Positive reviews and happy customers are important to us. However, please be reasonable, we cannot guarantee that every seed, cutting, or plant will succeed.  

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Happy Growing!We are a full service licensed plant nursery (B2915001).