How to Grow and Care for Tetragonia

New zealand spinach (*Tetragonia tetragonoides*) is a leafy vegetable species native to Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. New zealand spinach grows on shorelines and bluffs and is considered an invasive species in many countries.

Bower spinach (Tetragonia implexicoma) is a salt-tolerant plant that is most commonly found in coastal habitats. It has a spreading habit that makes it a popular ornamental groundcover. This plant produces pink or red berries that are especially attractive to lizards and birds. You can tell this species from its close relative Tetragonia tetragonioides because bower spinach has redder, plumper fruit rather than dry, leathery, horned fruit.

Tetragonia verrucosa is a resilient succulent with fleshy, triangular leaves and a sprawling groundcover habit. This plant exhibits tiny, inconspicuous yellow flowers and thrives in gritty, well-draining soil, often found creeping along coastal sands. Its textured leaves, with a warty or verrucose surface, contribute to its name, suggesting an adaptation to harsh sunlight and dry conditions.

Tetragonia fruticosa is a hardy shrub distinct for its succulent, triangular leaves and sprawling growth habit. Thriving in coastal environments, its fleshy foliage is adapted to withstand dry conditions, reflecting its resilience against both drought and saline soils. Yellowish-green flowers bloom under bright sunlight, contributing to its recognition as a unique species within its native habitat.

Tetragonia rosea boasts fleshy, triangle-shaped leaves and blooms with small, inconspicuous rose-pink flowers. Thriving in sandy coastal environments, its succulent leaves suggest an adaptation to limited freshwater. Its sprawling habit and hardy nature make it a robust groundcover, well-suited for stabilizing dunes and resisting salt spray.