kōkihi

Tetragonia trigyna | Beach spinach, kōkihi, native spinach

 

This sprawling, fleshy succulent features reddish stems and heart-shaped, green-red leaves that glisten. It's commonly found on sand dunes, gravel beaches, and rocky areas, bearing yellow flowers followed by dark red, fleshy seeds. Often confused with tutae-ikamoana (Tetragonia tetragonioides), Tetragonia trigyna is best identified by its distinct pink to dark red, fleshy, subglobose fruits. Its bright green leaves offer a lovely crunch and a slightly salty, sea-spray taste, making it a great alternative to garden spinach, though it's a bit tougher. It's best to use only the leaves and cook them a bit longer, similar to kale.

coastal scrub

coastal forest

dunes

boulder beaches

shrubland

well drained

free draining

dry

full sun

height | 20 cm

width | 4m

flowering |  September - June

fruiting | September - July

There are two common types of wild spinach in New Zealand, often confused but interchangeable. Both form spreading masses close to the ground (unlike upright garden spinach), with small leaves on scrambling stalks. One variety has rounder leaves, while the other's are distinctly pointier and triangular.