Anredera

Family Basellaceae. A rare perennial climbing plant with tuberous rhizomes, belonging to the Basellaceae.

During winter the above-ground parts may die back if kept sufficiently cool (down to 8-10 degrees) and dark. Under the opposite conditions the vines continue to grow, but growth slows. It is also necessary to reduce watering and feeding. In its native range (the Antilles, the Galapagos Islands, South America) locals use the above-ground parts of the plant (tasting like spinach) and the tubers (tasting like potato) as food. The flowers are gathered in graceful racemes and have a greenish-white color. They appear at the end of summer. During the growing season it grows very rapidly, tightly twining around the provided support, so it needs feeding once every two weeks. The plant is undemanding. It prefers a semi-shaded spot; in summer it requires abundant watering and occasional misting. In spring, after the dormancy period, the tubers are replanted and divided, ensuring good drainage. It can also be propagated from pieces of stem, but it is necessary to separate a vine that has a nascent tuber formed at the base of a leaf.