Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) is a tropical vegetable in the sweet potato family. It grows well in marshy wetland areas and can easily be propagated through stem cuttings. At Never Ending Food we have cement planters in each of our small ponds to keep the roots of water-loving plants from taking over the entire water feature. This allows more room for other species to thrive, such as fish and frogs. Each of these planters has a Water Spinach plant growing in it. This helps to draw much needed oxygen out of the air and into the ponds, as well as giving us the element of ‘functional landscaping’ that provides beauty and vegetables.
The Water Spinach flower is a very beautiful purplish-white bloom that has sometimes earned it the nickname ‘Water Morning Glory’. Water Spinach leaves can be cooked just as any other spinach or sweet potato leaf. They have been found to be very high sources of potassium and iron, as well as moderate sources of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous.
