New Asian Gynura – Longevity Spinach Relative – Gynura spp.

We acquired this leafy green from the once famous Mustang Market, a hotspot of diversity for interesting Asian fruits and vegetables.  The vendor was selling the greens as a raw or cooked vegetable.  We brought home the produce and rooted the cuttings.  When the plants began growing it was evident that this was a type of Gynura, the group that longevity and Okinawa spinach come from.  We don’t know if it could be a subtype of longevity spinach or a different species entirely.  The plant sprawls on the ground and is a little less vigorous than longevity spinach, but grows quite well and the flavor is fairly similar.  For new gardeners there is no compelling reason to grow this variety instead of normal longevity spinach, but we think it’s fun to explore the diversity within this group of vegetables since most gardeners basically all have the same variety.  A fun collectors item for rare vegetable collectors.