Malabar Spinach is a perennial native of India but grown as an annual in the UK. If you are looking for a different flavour from traditional spinach and you have a glasshouse or polytunnel its well worth a try. Rubra or Red Malabar Spinach has deep green leaves veined in pink set against burgundy stems and violet blooms. Alba the Green Malabar Spinach has green leaves and green stems The edible leaves can be used throughout summer but do best in heat and humidity. The plant can climb to 10 feet or more but probably shorter in the UK and is grown up a trellis or wigwam of canes like climbing beans.
