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Spinach - Sissoo (Alternanthera sissoo) 1G

$23.00
Crisp, compact edible groundcover for part shade
In stock: 18 available
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Spinach - Sissoo (Alternanthera sissoo) 1G
Product Details

🌿 Sissoo Spinach (Alternanthera sissoo) — Lush, Crunchy, and Florida-Friendly! 🌞


Your Year-Round Culinary Carpet 🌱

Sissoo Spinach—also called Brazilian Spinach, Bayam Brazil, Sambu, or Samba Lettuce—is a compact, evergreen edible that doubles as a dense, ornamental groundcover. It stays crisp (never slimy), roots easily from cuttings, and keeps the greens coming when tender lettuces have tapped out. In Florida and the Gulf Coast, it’s a go-to “tropical spinach” for beds, borders, and containers. Prefers about 50% shade for the most tender leaves but tolerates sunnier spots with irrigation.



🌿 Quick Facts Table

  • Botanical Name: Alternanthera sissoo
  • Plant Type: Perennial edible groundcover (annual in cold climates)
  • Sale Size: Ships in a 1-gallon pot
  • Mature Height & Width: 8–12 in tall, 18–30 in spread (denser with frequent pinching)
  • USDA Zones: 9–12 outdoors; grow as a warm-season annual or overwinter indoors elsewhere
  • Sun Requirements: Partial shade to full sun; best texture with morning sun + afternoon shade
  • Cold Hardiness: Frost-tender (protect below 32°F)
  • Growth Habit: Low, spreading, cut-and-come-again; easy to propagate from cuttings
  • Spacing: 12–18 in apart (plant in clusters for faster coverage)


🥗 Flavor & Culinary Use

  • Texture: Crunchy when raw; tender when lightly cooked.
  • Taste: Mild and fresh, perfect for both raw salads and cooked dishes.
  • Raw Uses: Adds crispness and subtle flavor to salads, wraps, or sandwiches.
  • Cooked Uses: Excellent in stir-fries, soups, and stews—retains shape and texture when sautéed or wilted.


🌱 Top Benefits

  • Heat-Season Performer: Stays productive through Florida summers.
  • Edible + Ornamental: Shiny green leaves form a tidy, weed-suppressing mat.
  • Low Maintenance: Frequent pinching and harvesting keeps it dense and vigorous.
  • Propagation Made Easy: Tip cuttings root readily in water or soil for quick expansion.


🌿 Best Practices for Planting & Care

  • Where to Plant: Morning sun with afternoon shade is ideal; use well-drained, compost-rich soil that stays evenly moist.
  • Planting Method: Use GreenDreams’ “High & Tight” technique—set the root ball at or slightly above soil level for good drainage and airflow.
  • Watering: Keep soil consistently moist (not soggy), especially in sunnier exposures.
  • Feeding: Monthly top-dressing with compost or a light organic fertilizer.
  • Mulching: Add 2–3" hardwood mulch around the base to lock in moisture and suppress weeds, keeping it away from stems.
  • Pruning/Harvesting: Pinch tips weekly; harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage branching.
  • Winter Care: Protect from frost with cloth or row cover; keep cuttings before freezes to restart easily in spring.


🪴 Container & Indoor Growing

  • Pot Sizes: Start in 1–3 gallon pots; step up to 5 gallon for a full, cascading specimen.
  • Light Indoors: Bright indirect light or under grow lights. Rotate and pinch frequently to maintain a compact shape.
  • Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, letting the top inch dry slightly between waterings.


🌼 Companions & Landscape Design

  • Edible Companions: Pigeon Pea, Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia), African Blue Basil, and Blue Porterweed.
  • Aesthetic Complements: Okinawan Spinach (purple undersides), Variegated Cuban Oregano, and Spiral Ginger for height.
  • Design Tip: Plant in clusters 12–18 inches apart for a quick, edible carpet effect beneath fruit trees or along garden paths.


Troubleshooting Guide

Symptom Likely Cause Fix
Leaves tough or bitter Too much sun or drought Shift to partial shade; increase watering and mulch
Plant thin or leggy Low light or not pruned Move to brighter location; pinch tips often
Cold damage Frost exposure Use frost cloth; regrow from saved cuttings
Slow spread Low nutrients or wide spacing Add compost; plant closer together for quicker coverage
Pests Aphids or snails Rinse with water or handpick; use mild organic controls if needed


🌦 Seasonal Care (Florida)

  • Spring: Plant after last frost; pinch early for fullness.
  • Summer: Peak production—harvest often and maintain moisture.
  • Fall: Take cuttings before cooler weather; reduce fertilizer as nights cool.
  • Winter: Protect from frost; replant from cuttings if tops die back.

Tropical “Spinach” Comparison Guide

Variety Botanical Name Growth Habit Heat Tolerance Texture / Flavor Best For Ornamental Appeal
Sissoo Spinach Alternanthera sissoo Low, spreading perennial ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mild, crisp, tender when wilted Groundcover, part-shade beds Dense green carpet
Okinawan Spinach Gynura bicolor Spreading perennial ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tender; mild; silky when cooked Borders, part shade Striking purple undersides
Longevity Spinach Gynura procumbens Spreading groundcover ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mild, crisp, slightly silky Containers, easy cuttings Glossy deep green leaves
Lagos Spinach (Celosia) Celosia argentea Upright annual ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Soft, amaranth-like Quick greens, summer beds Bright edible flowers
Surinam Spinach (Waterleaf) Talinum triangulare Succulent perennial ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tangy, juicy, slightly tart Hot, semi-shaded spots Glossy succulent leaves


❓ FAQ

Is Sissoo Spinach slimy like Malabar?

No — it’s crisp when raw and tender when lightly cooked.

Does it prefer sun or shade?

It thrives in partial shade but can handle full sun with regular watering and mulch.

Can it be eaten raw?

Yes — perfect for salads and wraps. For large servings, it’s best lightly cooked and drained.

Is it perennial?

Yes, in Zones 9–12. It grows year-round in mild climates and can be brought indoors during cold months.

Will it spread?

Yes — it forms a low, dense mat that’s easy to shape and manage.



🚚 Shipping & Handling Notes

  • 4” & 1-gallon plants ship best to Florida, the Southeastern US, and Texas.
  • Can ship nationwide, but plants traveling to northern or western states may require a short recovery period after arrival.
  • Shipping: Mondays via UPS Ground from Florida.
  • Weather Disclaimer: Buyer discretion advised during extreme heat or cold.
  • Tip: The 1-gallon size travels better and establishes faster than smaller pots.

Local Pickup at Our Retail Nursery

📍 GreenDreams Nursery & Farm

18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610

Open: Tues–Fri 9 AM–5 PM | Sat 8 AM–3 PM


🌿 Beyond the Plant: GreenDreams Services

We do more than sell plants — we design, build, and restore ecosystems across Florida.

  • 🌳 Onsite consultations & edible landscape design
  • 🏗️ Installation & project management
  • 🚚 Bulk delivery (compost, mulch, biochar, soil)
  • 🌾 Wholesale & regenerative solutions

Let our team help you create a thriving edible paradise — starting with Sissoo Spinach! 🌿


IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.

Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location
, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
 

1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
 

2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.

  • For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.

  • For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
     

3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.

  • We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.

  • Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
     

For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.

 

🌿 Important Shipping Information

Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.

  • Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.

  • Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.

  • Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.

  • Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better

 

 

 

Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants

1. Understanding of Shipping Stress

By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.

2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage

Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.

3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations

Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.

4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule

Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.

5.Extreme Weather Conditions

Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.

6. No Refund Policy

Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.

7. Responsibility of Care

Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.

8. Consent

By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.

These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.

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GreenDreams Sustainable Solutions, Inc.
18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
Shop Our Retail Nursery Location: Open to the Public!
TUES - FRI 9 AM - 5 PM / SAT 8 AM - 3 PM

Retail Nursery Info + Contact - Click Here

All Online Orders Ship Mondays
Question About Your Online Order? USE CONTACT FORM HERE

ONLINE NURSERY / SHIPPING DEPT / MATERIALS DELIVERY / CONSULTATION & DESIGN - PLEASE USE OUR CONTACT FORM FOR BEST SERVICE: USE CONTACT FORM HERE

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