# New Zealand Spinach (*Tetragonia tetragonoides*)

New Zealand Spinach is a leafy green plant that grows close to the ground. It has thick, succulent leaves that are tasty and packed with nutrients. It's a great addition to salads and can be eaten raw or cooked!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Coastal areas

![New Zealand Spinach](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Tetragonia_tetragonioides_%28Flower%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Ixitixel, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tetragonia_tetragonioides_%28Flower%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The New Zealand Spinach is a low-growing plant with fleshy, triangular to oval-shaped leaves that are bright green. Its small, yellowish-green flowers are inconspicuous and grow in leaf axils. This gives it a sprawling, succulent appearance distinct from common spinach.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Caryophyllales
- **Family:** Aizoaceae
- **Genus:** Tetragonia

## Interesting facts

- Captain Cook's crew ate this plant to fight scurvy!
- Its triangular leaves have tiny bumps that shimmer like ice crystals!
- Unlike regular spinach, it actually thrives in hot summer heat!
- You can eat its crunchy stems and seeds too, not just the leaves!

## Special abilities

- **Ocean Survivor:** New Zealand Spinach can grow in salty soil near coastlines, an adaptation that helps it thrive where other plants cannot.
- **Water Hoarder:** Its thick, succulent leaves store water, helping it survive in dry conditions and hot climates.
- **Ground Hugger:** This plant spreads wide, forming a dense mat that helps it cover ground quickly and outcompete weeds.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 10-50 cm
- **Spread:** 50-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Wind

## Ecological connections

- **Eats:** [Human](https://www.snappit.app/explore/human) (*Homo sapiens*) — harvested for its edible leaves and stems
- **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — snails may munch on its tender foliage
- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — bees visit small flowers for nectar and pollen
- **Eaten by:** [Sheep](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sheep) (*Ovis aries*) — grazing animals can feed on its greens

## Traits

- [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water.
- [Succulent](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/succulent): Succulent plants have thickened, fleshy parts, usually leaves or stems, adapted to store water in arid climates.
- [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period.
- [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always wash plants before eating them and ask an adult for help.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify New Zealand Spinach?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is New Zealand Spinach?

10-50 cm

### How wide does New Zealand Spinach spread?

50-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on New Zealand Spinach?

0.2-0.5 cm

### When does New Zealand Spinach bloom?

Summer

### Is New Zealand Spinach edible?

Yes

### Is New Zealand Spinach toxic?

None

### What is New Zealand Spinach's lifecycle?

Annual

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [New Zealand Spinach: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/new-zealand-spinach)