Carol Cloud Bailey
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Botanical Name
CNIDOSCOLUS aconitifolius
Plant Common Name
Chaya
Special Notice
This entry has yet to be reviewed and approved by L2G editors.
General Description
A vegetable popular in the tropical Americas, chaya sometimes known as tree spinach is considered by some experts as one of the most nutritious of the leafy greens. It originates from the Yucatan and is now naturalized in warm areas of the Americas. Fast growing, of easy culture and underutilized, this green must be boiled for one to five minutes before eating, the leaves are poisonous when raw.
Classified in the same family as poinsettia and croton, chaya is a tender perennial which forms a large shrub or small tree. The large dark green leaves are smooth sometimes with a few stiff hairs on the surface and deeply lobed like the palm of a hand. They are held on long petioles (leaf stalks) and alternate each other on the stems. The stems exude milky sap when cut and bear stinging hairs at the tips. White small flowers are produced throughout the year in frost-free locations. They are held in clusters on long stems well above the foliage. The fruit is a hard nutlike capsule. Propagation is usually by cuttings.
Chaya is a good source of protein, vitamins (A and C), minerals (calcium, iron and phosphorus), niacin, riboflavin and thiamine. It is very productive after established and fifty percent of the foliage can be removed at any one harvesting. As a perennial vegetable, choose the planting location with care. Chaya prefers pull sun, well-drained soil and regular applications of water. The plant is drought tolerant but more productive if irrigated when dry. It has few pests and requires modest amounts of fertilizer. Use gloves when harvesting leaves to protect hands from stinging hairs.
Beautiful as an ornamental and useful in the kitchen, chaya is a great addition to frost-free veggie gardens and landscapes. Where not hardy it is lovely in large containers or tubs.
Characteristics
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USDA Hardiness Zone
10 - 12
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Plant Type
Tender Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
6'-15' / 1.8m - 4.6m
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Width
6'-15' / 1.8m - 4.6m
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Bloom Time
Indeterminate
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Native To
Central America
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
White
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Fruit Color
Green
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Dark Green
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Bark Color
Sandy Brown
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
Yes
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Bark Texture
Smooth
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Usage
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Hedges, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
Yes
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Invasive
No
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Attracts
Butterflies
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Self-Sowing
No
