Ipomoea Species, Morning Glory, Chinese Water Spinach, Swamp Cabbage, Swamp Morning Glory, Kang Kong

This plant is listed on the USDA website as invasive or noxious. Florida State-listed Invasive and Noxious Weeds.

Ipomoea...Read More aquatica Forssk. ~ Water Spinach (PAP1 ~ Prohibited aquatic plant, Class 1)

In Indonesia, they are called Kangkung. They were a cheap, easy growing, delicious fast crops. They have lots of nutrition within. We ...Read Moreall like it.

I think there was some varieties in the genus. As long as I remember, there is two kind of I.aquatica, the first one is called Kangkung darat and kangkung air . The first one, especially grows by seeds, because they produce more seeds, and they grows on the soil which is not damp. This variety doesnt like to be damp, because the root will soon rot if they got too much water.

The second are they one which grows especially in mud or damp soil. The one which is commonly found in swamps, river or lake edges etc. The flower are white, while the first one got red or yellow shade on the flower. The leaf is also different.

They are fast growing, but I dont see any harm from this plants to be considered as dangerous invasive plant, because while they could stand extreme full sun condition, they arent likely to survive in the winters.

I fell in love with this plant while living in Taiwan. It is utterly delicious when stir fried in some oil with fresh garlic and a pinch...Read More of salt. It is known to me as kong syin tsai in Mandarin Chinese (literal translation = hollow heart vegetable).

I really want to grow this plant, provided that I can control it. Am looking for seeds...

What? A weed?? In Malaysia, it's a food crop! It's called Water Convulvulus (or 'kangkong' in Malay). It's commonly stir-fried, or can be...Read More dipped in batter and deep fried. Only the youngest leaves and stems are eaten. If your plant has flowered, that's way too old - it would be too stringy.

Water Convulvulus grows wild by the side of ditches and in swampy/waterlogged areas. It likes to grow at water's edge and sometimes even grows out into the water. It's a favourite food of tortoises. Cultivating this at home is easy as it's a vigorous grower.

Easily grown in a water tub or a small pond as an interesting edible plant. Not invasive in areas that freeze because you will get 100% ...Read Moremortality at first frost and must carefully restock to enjoy this plant the following year.

Chinese Water Spinach, Swamp Cabbage, Swamp Morning Glory Ipomoea aquatica is naturalized in Texas and other States is considered an inva...Read Moresive noxious plant and is prohibited in Texas.

There are several subtypes under Ipomoea aquatica. Most are noxious weeds. However, the "alba," or white-stemmed group includes a prize...Read Mored cooking green from Southeast Asia. My Thai friend calls it "phakbung." You will see it sold in bundles in Asian food stores. The leaves resemble morning glory, of course, and the stems are rather stiff and hollow, like spinach getting ready to bolt. However, phakbung cooks down easily. I compare it to spinach in consistency and taste. My Thai friend will tolerate spinach when phakbung is unavailable. But in the warm months of summer, this green might be a surer bet than spinach. I really would like to get some seeds!

The USDA classifies this plant as a Federal Noxious Weed. Importation into the U.S. is prohibited without a permit. It is a prohibited ...Read Moreaquatic plant in the state of Florida, and a prohibited noxious weed in the state of Arizona.

As a Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer with the USDA, I do not recommend the distribution, planting, buying nor growing of Ipomoea aquatica.

Water spinach leaves are almost arrowhead-shaped, one to six inches long, and one to three inches wide.

This annual vine g...Read Morerows best in constant wet soil or as an emersed freshwater plant. Water spinach leaves are almost arrowhead-shaped, one to six inches long, and one to three inches wide. The leaves have notched bases, with rounded or pointed lobes. The flowers are 2" across.

The leaf and stem are used in Oriental cooking; when boiled or fried, the taste is similar to spinach, hence the common name.