Water Spinach.

Auf einen Blick

Pflegestufe

Einfach

Pflanzenart

Aquatic vegetable

Licht

Full sun to partial shade

Licht im Innenraum

Hell, indirekt

Gießen

Alle 1 bis 2 Tage

Endgröße

3 to 10 feet

Wachstum

Schnell

Winterhärte

USDA 10 bis 12

Blütezeit

Summer to early autumn

Pflege

Keep the soil saturated or grow the plant directly in water to mimic its natural wetland habitat. Watch for yellowing leaves, which often signal a need for more nutrients or better light. Ensure the water stays fresh to prevent any issues with stagnation.

Gießen

The soil must remain consistently waterlogged or submerged.

Düngen

Use a balanced liquid fertilizer to keep the foliage lush.

Schneiden

Trim the stems regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent it from becoming too leggy.

Umtopfen

Repot if the plant becomes root bound in its container or if you are moving it to a larger water feature.

Boden

Rich, loamy, or aquatic soil

Boden-pH

5.5 to 7.0

Temperatur

15 bis 35°C

Luftfeuchtigkeit

70 bis 95%

Sicherheit

Menschen

The plant is generally considered safe for consumption when cooked, though raw ingestion is discouraged due to potential waterborne pathogens.

Kinder

Ensure children do not play in the water where this plant grows, as it may harbor bacteria or parasites.

Kontaktallergene

Contact with the sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Allergene in der Luft

Pollen may cause mild reactions in those with severe seasonal allergies.

Essbarkeit

Water spinach must be cooked thoroughly to eliminate the risk of parasites like Fasciolopsis buski that can thrive in contaminated water.

So erkennst du die Pflanze

• Long, arrow shaped leaves
• Hollow, floating stems
• Trumpet shaped white or pink flowers
• Creeping or trailing growth habit

Höhe

0,1 bis 0,3m

Breite

1 bis 3m

Blätter

green, deciduous

Blüten

white, lavender, 3 bis 5cm

Früchte

brown, Summer to autumn

Häufige Probleme

• White rust — Fungal infection causing white pustules on the undersides of leaves.
• Aphids — Small insects that suck sap from new growth.

Standort und Pflege

Vermehrung

cuttings, seed

Pflanzzeit

spring, summer

Keep this plant isolated in its own container to prevent it from outcompeting other species in your garden.

Gute Pflanzpartner

• Eichhornia crassipes — They share similar aquatic growing requirements.

Ähnliche Arten

• Sweet Potato — They are closely related and share similar leaf shapes.

Botanisches

Familie

Convolvulaceae

Gattung

Ipomoea

Ordnung

Solanales

Klasse

Magnoliopsida

Ursprüngliche Heimat

Tropical and subtropical regions of Asia.

Artenschutz

It is considered an invasive species in many parts of the United States and should be grown with caution.

It thrives in marshes, ponds, and slow moving water where it can spread rapidly across the surface.

Nutzen für Wildtiere

nectar source

Bestäuber

Bienen, Schmetterlinge

Verwendung

culinary vegetable, aquatic groundcover

Taxonomie abgeglichen mit GBIF.

Häufige Fragen

Can I grow this in a regular pot?

Yes, but it requires a very large container kept constantly saturated with water.

Is it invasive?

Yes, it is highly invasive in many warm climates and should never be released into natural waterways.

Woher der Name kommt

The genus name Ipomoea comes from Greek words meaning worm and likeness, referring to the twining habit of the vines.

Gut zu wissen

• It is also known as water morning glory.
• The stems are hollow, which helps the plant float.
• It grows incredibly fast in warm, wet conditions.
• It is a member of the Convolvulaceae family.