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Alternanthera sissoo - Hort.

Common Name Brazilian Spinach, Sambu, Samba lettuce
Family Amaranthaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Not known
Range S. America - Brazil.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Alternanthera sissoo Brazilian Spinach, Sambu, Samba lettuce


© 2013 National Parks Board, Singapore
Alternanthera sissoo Brazilian Spinach, Sambu, Samba lettuce
© 2013 National Parks Board, Singapore

 

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Summary

Also known as Sissoo spinach, Brazilian spinach or Alternanthera sissoo, is commonly known as ground cover due to its fast-growing characteristic. Its leaves are edible, usually cooked by steaming or boiling and eaten as spinach. It grows about 30 cm high, prefers 50% or more shade, and can tolerate a wide range of pH soil conditions. Cultivation is through stem cuttings by simple layering. Other common name is Sambu or Samba lettuce.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Alternanthera sissoo is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

None Known

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Leaves - cooked and used as a spinach[ 298 ]. The shoots are harvested when 15 - 25cm long - frequent harvesting stimulates new growth and increases overall yields[ 298 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Other uses rating: Good (3/5). Agroforestry Uses: A fast-growing, weed-excluding ground cover plant. Barrier.

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground Cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Plants can thrive in 50% or more shade. Prefers a well-drained soil with a high organic content[ 298 ]. A fast-growing, spreading plant, but it does not produce seed and is not considered to be invasive. The plant can suffer severe insect damage to the leaves in some areas[ 298 ].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed is not produced. Cuttings - very easy.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Brazilian Spinach, Sambu, Samba lettuce, Alternanthera sissoo.

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Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Coming Soon

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Hort.

Botanical References

1

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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Subject : Alternanthera sissoo  
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