tutae-ikamoana
about.
Tetragonia tetragonoides | kōkihi, New Zealand spinach, tutae-ikamoana
One of our native spinaches, Tetragonia tetragonoides is a leafy groundcover found naturally along beaches, dunes, and cliff faces. This scrambling heirloom vegetable forms thick carpets or trails over banks, growing 30-50 cm tall and 2 m wide. It's a fantastic choice for coastal gardens, covering banks, trailing over walls, or as a container plant. With a taste and texture similar to spinach, it's great cooked as a leafy green and thrives in hot, dry weather, offering months of harvest. For the best taste and to encourage new growth, pick the tender young tips
typical habitat.
coastal scrub
dunes
boulder beaches
drainage.
well drained
free draining
dry
sun.
full sun
mature specifications.
height | 50cm
width | 2m
pollinators calendar.
flowering | October-February
fruiting | November - March
did you know?
Since this species is cultivated as a vegetable, it frequently appears in landfills or as a casual urban weed. Some wild coastal populations near towns might even originate from discarded garden waste.