Water Spinach

Ipomoea aquatica

Also known as: Ong Choy, Kangkong

Water Spinach is a vegetable in the Convolvulaceae family. It grows best in full sun with high moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 9-11.

Varieties

1 · sorted by days to maturity

▸Water Spinach
PROPAGATION CATEGORY: Tender aquatic green (not in original seed catalog). Use: Fast Asian leafy green, stir-fry. Note: Can be invasive in warm wet areas; regulated in some US states.
Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) is a fast tropical leafy green for stir-fries, grown in wet soil or shallow water; frost-tender and regulated in some states as a potential weed.
Growing notes: Botanical name: Ipomoea aquatica|Hardiness zones: 9-11|Propagation: seed or stem cuttings|Light: Full sun|Water: High|Mature size: vining/trailing

Family

Convolvulaceae

Plan your water spinach planting

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At a glance

Frost tolerance

Warm-season · to ~50°F

Lowest temperature the foliage usually survives

Storing & preserving

Refrigerate in a bag with a paper towel; best within a week.

Freeze: Cooking greens freeze after blanching; salad greens don't.

General home-preservation guidance — for tested processing times and safety, follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Growing timeline

Propagation

Seed

Schedule anchor

Last Frost

Care & troubleshooting— extension-sourced, with citations

Something looks wrong?

Describe what you see on your water spinachand we'll rank the likely causes — most likely first, least-invasive fix first.

Japanese beetles

Pestmoderate

Symptoms: leaves skeletonized between veins; lacy chewed foliage; metallic green-bronze beetles clustered on plants; feeding worst in warm midsummer sun

CulturalHandpick into soapy water· every 1 days · ~4 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
In early morning when beetles are sluggish, knock them into a bucket of soapy water; daily removal also reduces the scent that draws in more beetles. Skip the lure traps, which tend to attract more beetles than they catch.
Source: UMN Extension: Japanese beetles; PennState Extension: Japanese Beetles in the Home Garden
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CulturalCover plants past bloommoderate evidence — extension confidence
On crops that have finished flowering and set fruit, drape a row cover or netting to keep beetles off without blocking pollination during bloom.
Source: UMN Extension: Japanese beetles
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Spider mites

Pestmoderate

Symptoms: fine pale stippling/speckling on leaves; fine webbing on undersides in hot dry spells; leaves bronzing and dropping

CulturalHose down and raise humidity· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Mites thrive in hot, dry, dusty conditions. Spray foliage (especially undersides) with water to dislodge them and reduce dust.
Source: UC IPM
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OrganicInsecticidal soap or horticultural oil - label use only· every 5 days · ~2 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Apply to undersides per label; mites resist many products, so soaps/oils are preferred. Not in extreme heat.
Always follow the product label — it is the law.
Source: UC IPM
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Aphids

Pestlow

Symptoms: clusters of tiny soft-bodied insects on new growth and undersides; sticky honeydew or sooty mold; curled distorted new leaves; ants tending them

CulturalBlast off with water· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence
Knock colonies off with a strong jet of water in the morning; repeat every few days. Light infestations rarely need more.
Source: UC IPM: Aphids
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OrganicInsecticidal soap - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
For persistent colonies apply insecticidal soap to undersides per label. Avoid open flowers.
Always follow the product label — it is the law.
Source: UC IPM
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Leaf miners

Pestlow

Symptoms: winding pale tunnels inside the leaf; pale blotches between the upper and lower leaf surfaces; tunnels/blotches that can't be rubbed off because the larva is inside

CulturalPick mined leaves + row cover· every 5 days · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence
Remove and bag leaves with tunnels, and cover plants with insect netting to block the egg-laying flies. Damage is mostly cosmetic on leafy crops.
Source: UMN Extension
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