plant

New Zealand spinach

Tetragonia tetragonioides

Updated 8 Jul 2026 · AI-parsed entry

New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) — a plant, for Full sun, Medium water.

What it needs & gives back

↓ Needs

Sunlightfull sun to partial shade
Watermoderate

↑ Gives back

Biomassedible leaves and shoots

Through the year

Emergence

Emergence occurs after the last spring frost when soil temperatures consistently reach 100C.

Flowering

Flowering typically begins about 60 days after emergence and can continue for several months.

Fruiting

Fruiting follows flowering, with seeds maturing over a long period.

Harvest

Leaves can be harvested continuously from about 45 days after emergence until the first autumn frost.

Senescence

Plants will senesce with the arrival of the first autumn frost.

Timing is relative to your local season (temperate Northern Hemisphere).

Soil interactions

Drainagewell-drained
Nitrogen fixingNo
MycorrhizalNo
Accumulatesmagnesium, iron, calcium
Soil texturesandy, loamy, clay
Organic matterMedium
Compaction toleranceMedium

Propagation

Methodsseed
Difficulty2 / 5
Establishes in~1 yr
Self-seedingModerate

Wildlife & pests

Can host pestssnails, slugs