Variegated Maya Spinach Tree
Maya Spinach Tree (cnidoscolus chayamansa) – Nutrient dense Tree Spinach is super easy to grow, drought tolerant and pest resistant. This large edible shrub has lobed leaves that resemble a hibiscus tree and will attain an easy to maintain, 6 to 8 feet tall. Small unobtrusive white flowers grow in late summer and develop into ripening walnut sized seed pods in the fall. Chaya is a good source of protein, vitamins, calcium, and iron. The young shoots and tender leaves of Chaya are cooked and eaten like spinach. Note: raw Chaya leaves are mildly toxic raw, 1 minute of cooking is essential to easily inactivate the toxin. This plant has been grown to maturity and is verified.
Why Verify? Aroid species often exhibit similar characteristics in their juvenile stage, making precise identification challenging. Many enthusiasts may mistakenly categorize various species due to their resemblances before they reach full maturity. This confusion is further compounded when plants from different geographical regions, such as South America or Europe, are given identical names despite their mature forms displaying distinct differences. Our innovative verify program provides a solution to this issue by offering a glimpse of the mature form of the plant before making a purchase.
How We Verify? Our years-long project has successfully nurtured over 600 unique varieties, grown on large poles for precise evaluation of their size, node spacing, leaf color, stem width, and growth rate etc.
About This Plant
- Actual Plant: Similar to last Photos
- Pot Size: Ships In 4″ Round
- Includes: 1 Plant With Pot
- Ships By: UPS
- Ships From: Florida USA
- Shipping Rate: Click Tab Above
Info. & Recommendations
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Light: 60-85%
- Soil: Rich Organic Mix
- Fertilizer: Slow Time Released
- Water: When Dry to Touch
- Dislikes: Soggy Soil
- Likes: 65-90°F
- Outdoor Zone: 9b-10b
- Pot Size: 10″-24″ w/Drain Holes
- Indoors: Locate Near Natural Light
- Faux Light: Grow Light Full Spectrum
- Coloration: Stable
Our plants are grown in conditions akin to a natural, humid rainforest, using minimal pesticides. Occasional leaf drop, spotting, or browning, especially in varieties with significant white, are normal. In our nursery, plants thrive under 40-80% shade cloth. If grown outdoors, direct exposure to full sun may cause leaf burn. We suggest gradually introducing the plants to sunny areas over a week or so to reduce stress for optimal results. Despite our high standards in plant propagation, we can't assure future variegation patterns, coloration, survival or growth rate. Individual plants may vary, even though our mother plants have thrived for over 20 years. We guarantee all variegation is natural without any Chemically Induced Variegation (NO C.I.V.)