🌿 Long Leaf Sissoo Spinach – Brazilian Spinach Groundcover Powerhouse 🌱

Alternanthera sissoo

If you’ve been searching for a low-growing, edible groundcover that actually produces food, this is it. Long Leaf Sissoo Spinach — also known as Brazilian Spinach, Bayam Brazil, Sambu, and Samba Lettuce — is one of the most reliable perennial greens for Florida and other warm climates. Crisp texture. Mild flavor. Zero drama.

This is the kind of plant that quietly upgrades your food forest.

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🌿 Quick Facts Guide

Category	Details
Botanical Name	Alternanthera sissoo
Plant Type	Perennial edible groundcover
Size at Sale	4” container
Estimated Age	2–4 months established cutting
Mature Height	8–12 inches (can be kept lower with pruning)
Spread	2–4 feet per plant, spreading by stems
USDA Zones	9–12 perennial / annual in cooler zones
Sun Requirements	Full sun to partial shade
Cold Hardiness	Light frost sensitive below 32°F
Growth Habit	Dense, creeping, mat-forming
Spacing	18–24 inches apart for solid groundcover

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🌎 Origin & Story

Despite the common name “Brazilian Spinach,” Alternanthera sissoo is believed to have origins in South America, where it became widely adopted in Brazil and later Southeast Asia.

In Indonesia and Malaysia, it’s called Bayam Brazil and is a staple stir-fry green. Its popularity grew because:

• It tolerates heat and humidity
• It produces year-round
• It doesn’t get slimy like traditional spinach
• It thrives in tropical climates where true spinach struggles

It became a permaculture favorite because it functions as both food + living mulch.

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🥬 Flavor Profile & Culinary Uses

🍃 Texture

• Thick, succulent leaves
• Crisp when raw
• Holds structure when cooked

👅 Taste

• Mild
• Clean
• Slightly earthy
• No bitterness
• No slimy texture

🌿 Most Common Uses

• Fresh salads
• Smoothies
• Stir-fries
• Omelets
• Soups
• Chopped into rice dishes
• Wilted into curries
• Garden grazing snack

🌎 Cultural Uses

Brazil: Added to stews like feijoada

Indonesia & Malaysia: Stir-fried with garlic & chili

Modern permaculture kitchens: Used as a living lettuce substitute

🍽 Simple Sauté Method

Sauté leaves with olive oil, garlic, and sea salt for 2–3 minutes. Finish with lemon. Done.

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🌱 Why Grow Long Leaf Sissoo Spinach?

• 🌿 Year-round harvest in Florida
• 🌞 Thrives in heat where true spinach fails
• 🌾 Living mulch that suppresses weeds
• 🌳 Ideal understory plant beneath fruit trees
• 💧 Moderate drought tolerance once established
• 🐝 Supports biodiversity in layered gardens
• 🪴 Excellent container plant

This is one of the easiest perennial greens we grow.

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🌿 Growth Habits & Seasonal Expectations (Florida Focus)

Spring

🌱 Rapid new growth flush

Best time to propagate cuttings

Summer

🌞 Thrives in heat

May require more water in containers

Fall

Steady production

Dense spreading growth

Winter (Zones 9–10)

🍃 May slow slightly

❄️ Light frost can damage foliage but roots often rebound

In zones below 9, expect it to behave as an annual unless protected.

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🌞 Sun, Wind & Salt Tolerance

• Performs best in 6+ hours of sun
• Tolerates partial shade well
• Moderate wind tolerance
• Mild salt tolerance (not ideal for direct beachfront exposure)

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🪴 Container & Indoor Growing

Yes — very well suited for containers.

Container Guidelines

• 1–3 gallon pots minimum
• Well-draining potting mix
• Daily watering in hot months

Indoors

• Bright window or grow lights
• Avoid cold drafts
• Allow soil to dry slightly between watering

Wait 30 days after shipping or until new growth appears before transplanting.

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🌿 Best Practices for Planting and Care

After Shipping

All Long Leaf Sissoo Spinach plants should remain in their original container until:

• New growth appears
• Plant shows full recovery from transit

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Where to Plant

• Full sun to partial shade
• Well-draining soil
• Avoid standing water areas

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How to Plant (High & Tight Method)

Dig a hole only slightly wider than the container and at the same depth.

Backfill firmly with compost/native soil blend. Do not plant too deep.

Top dress with:

• Biochar
• Compost
• Azomite
• Organic fertilizer

Add hardwood mulch around plant, keeping mulch off stems.

For tree planting instruction reference:

https://youtu.be/RRQFY30qdA8?si=rRIcsbLlVAVYotfI

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Watering

In Container:

• Daily during warm months
• Reduce in cooler weather

In Ground:

• Daily first 2 weeks
• Then 2–3x weekly until established
• Drip irrigation preferred

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Pruning

✂️ Pinch tips regularly to promote bushiness

✂️ Trim back leggy stems

🪚 Can be cut back hard and will regrow

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Fertilizing

⚖️ Light feeder

🌿 Top dress with compost 2–3 times per year

Avoid heavy nitrogen

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🌿 Companion Plants (Food Forest Guild Ideas)

Pairs well with:

• 🌾 Pigeon Pea (nitrogen fixer)
• 🌼 Mexican Sunflower (biomass)
• 🌱 Sweet Potato (groundcover pairing)
• 🌿 Turmeric & Ginger (understory companions)
• 🌳 Fruit trees needing living mulch

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🔍 Troubleshooting Guide

⚠️ Issue | 🧠 Cause | 🌿 Solution

🍂 Yellow leaves | 💦 Overwatering | Improve drainage, reduce irrigation

❄️ Frost damage | ❄️ Temps below 32°F | Trim dead growth, mulch roots

🫣 Leggy growth | ☁️ Too much shade | Increase sun exposure

💧 Wilted leaves | 💧 Underwatering | Deep soak, add mulch

🐛 Minor chewing | 🐛 Caterpillars | Handpick or neem spray

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⚠️ Cautions

• Not frost hardy below freezing
• Avoid waterlogged soil
• Can spread if happy — prune to contain

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🌿 Is This Plant Right For You?

✅ Ideal For:

• Florida growers
• Food forest builders
• Permaculture gardeners
• Raised bed gardeners
• Edible landscaping lovers

❌ Not Ideal For:

• Cold climates without protection
• Those wanting traditional spinach flavor
• Areas with heavy winter frost

❓ FAQ

Is Brazilian Spinach a true spinach?

No. It’s unrelated to traditional spinach but used similarly.

Can I eat it raw?

Yes. Crisp and mild — no sliminess.

Does it spread?

Yes, by creeping stems. Easily controlled with pruning.

Is it perennial?

Yes in zones 9–12.

How often can I harvest?

Continuously. Pinch outer stems to promote new growth.

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🚚 Shipping Details

This 4” Long Leaf Sissoo Spinach ships best to Florida, the Southeastern US & Texas.

We ship nationwide via UPS Ground every Monday.

Buyer assumes risk during extreme cold or heat.

Young plants may require 1–3 weeks of filtered light & consistent moisture for recovery.

We are not responsible for plant condition during extreme seasonal temperatures in transit.

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🏡 Local Pickup

GreenDreams Nursery & Farm

🌾 18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610

🕘 Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM | 🌞 Sat 8AM–3PM

We carry larger sizes and countless plants not listed online.

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🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services

At GreenDreams, we design, build, and restore ecosystems across Florida.

• 🌳 Onsite consultations
• 🚜 Installation & project management
• 🚚 Bulk compost & mulch delivery
• 🌾 Wholesale regenerative solutions

Let’s build your edible ground layer the right way — starting with Long Leaf Sissoo Spinach.