Amaranthaceae · plant
Spinach
Spinacia oleracea
Curated from cited sources
A leafy vegetable grown for its leaves. Note: in South Africa, ‘spinach’ in shops often means Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) — a different species with its own data.
Detailed Nutrition AnalysisEdibility applies to listed parts only
One edible part does not make the whole plant edible. Parts marked unknown or toxic should not be eaten.
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
- Genus
- Spinacia
- Native regions
- Central and western Asia.
- Habitat
- Cultivated crop; cool-season vegetable.
- Growing conditions
- Cool weather, fertile moist soil, part to full sun. Bolts in heat.
- Lifecycle
- Annual.
- Flowering / fruiting
- Cool season (Southern Hemisphere roughly Mar–Sep).
- Uses
- Salads, cooked greens, soups, stews.
- Lookalikes
- Many wild leafy plants. Do not forage ‘spinach-like’ leaves.
- Allergies
- Rare. Contains oxalates — people advised to limit oxalate should follow their clinician's guidance.