A Medicinal Protein Vegetable for Longevity
We’re really enjoying growing and using longevity spinach, aka, Gynura procumbens! There are so many benefits and uses, that if you’re just becoming acquainted with this plant, then you’re in for a treat.
Longevity spinach is related to but not the same as “Okinawa spinach”, with the scientific name of Gynura procumbens, from the family Asteraceae. G. Procumbens is a low-growing, semi-succulent leaf vegetable very popular in Southeast Asia, its home turf.
As vegetarians, we were delighted to discover that longevity spinach is high in quality protein, and so many other benefits.[1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21938418[2]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4791373/
No Nutritional info on Gynura Procumbens
While there are published papers on the health benefits and chemical constituents of Gynura, we’ve yet to find any information on the nutritional facts of longevity spinach beyond a measure of protein. If you’re aware of any, please let us know.
AUDIO ARTICLE – GROWING LONGEVITY SPINACH
How to Grow Longevity Spinach
Longevity Spinach Grow Zones 9-11
- Height: 6-12 inches
- Growth: naturally vining; can be pruned for branching
- Light: Full to part sun
- Soil: Keep moist, but not soggy
- Zones: 9-11 – G. procumbens is a tropical plant, but can grow indoors in colder climates.
SOURCE: Wellspring Gardens[3]https://wellspringgardens.com/products/longevity-spinach-gynura-procumbens - Difficulty: Longevity spinach is very easy to grow and propagate from clippings
Is Longevity Spinach a Perennial or Annual?
Gynura procumbens is grown as a perennial in warmer regions or as an annual where frost and freezing is a factor.
For those in the warmer US growing regions (zones 9 and above), the gynura plant will proliferate as a perennial through the warm season and hold its own over the “winter”.
This plant is not hardy to freezing temps, so if you have a freeze in zones 9-11, use a plant cover to protect it.
Gynura Grows Best in Partial Shade
Our original G. procumbens plants arrived in good bare root condition but a bit early for our NC climate. So we bagged up in organic potting mix and kept them protected with straw and an occasional cloth cover.
The young Gynura plants struggled a bit until we modified the full sun exposure. They were getting scorched from too much sun, so we added a shade cloth for screening and from there on they’re thriving.
So, gynura—like spinach—grows best in partial shade. They did alright in their cozy 3 gallon grow bags. We ran one dripper per bag from our irrigation grid and packed in straw around the sides as insulation against cold in early season and to retain moisture in summer.
Can You Grow Longevity Spinach Indoors?
Yes, you can grow longevity spinach indoors in pots during winter.
We’ve propagated cuttings to pots in the garden, then brought them indoors before the first frost.
However you’ll need ample sunlight and/or grow lights. While Gynura needs protection from too much sun outdoors, it often doesn’t get quite enough with indoor lighting.
Grow Bags and Pots
The first year we used grow bags, which work great, though maybe not the prettiest presentation (my wife advised)😉. So the next season, we put all of the plants in nicer 16″ pots.
The indoor Gynura plants over wintered in a corner tub with south and east windows. (The sacrifices gardeners make for their plants! 😃 To that we rigged up some LED grow lights on a tripod. Our starts from clippings were under grow lights in the indoor greenhouse set-up.
Moving on up!
So we went from two pots of gynura to a handful and from grow bags in our sunroom to 16″ pots in the tub. This year our gynura graduated to our cattle panel greenhouse. We’re planning on growing gynura for a long time to come. It’s an easy growing superfood, so an easy decision to make.
Gynura can grow indoors, but will need some additional care.
Longevity spinach grows year round outdoors in zones 9-11, and can grow indoors in colder climates with enough sun and/or grow lights.
~GardensAll.com
Why is the Gynura Plant Called Longevity Spinach?
Commonly called “Longevity Spinach”, Gynura procumbens, or G. procumbens, has been used for centuries in tropical Asian countries.
Why is it Called Longevity Spinach?
- LONG LIVED PLANT: The gynura procumbens plant is a long-lived perennial in warm climates and easy to grow.
- FIGHTS DISEASE: Gynura has been used medicinally for centuries in Asian countries – thwarting disease, elongates live.
- IMPROVES HEALTH: Some studies have corroborated some of G. procumbens’ extraordinary healing properties, including anti-aging benefits.
SOURCE: Study published 2015[4]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4791373/