Tetragonia tetragonoides
New zealand spinach, New Zealand Spinach
(c) Cheng-Tao Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Cheng-Tao Lin · licence
Family: Aizoaceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Tetragonia tetragonoides (New zealand spinach) is a non-native California subshrub in the Aizoaceae family, recognized by distinctive coastal habitat and triangular leaves.
New zealand spinach is a naturalized perennial found in coastal bioregions including North Coast, Central Coast, and Southern Coast in sand dunes, coastal bluffs, and wetland margins at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from April to September, this plant produces small yellow-green flowers approximately 5 millimeters wide. Growing with multiple spreading stems reaching over 3 decimeters long, it forms a sprawling ground cover with distinctive large crystalline papillae. Its triangular-ovate leaves are 2 to 5 centimeters long with winged petioles and slightly wavy margins, presenting a unique succulent-like appearance. The plant produces pear-shaped brown seeds that contribute to its successful naturalization in coastal California environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated from all congeners; distinctive coastal habitat and triangular leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Sand dunes, bluffs, margins of coastal wetlands
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: native to southern hemisphere
Bloom period
Tetragonia tetragonoides blooms Apr-Sep.
How to tell it apart
vs Mesembryanthemum: Flowers sitting atop swelling fruit vs. ice plant's flowers at stem tips with ovary hidden inside.; vs Eriogonum: Fleshy leaves and greenish flowers vs. buckwheat's papery flowers and non-succulent leaves.; vs Spinacia: Coastal succulent habit vs. spinach's upright leafy garden vegetable form.; vs Baccharis: Fleshy leaves and perfect flowers vs. Baccharis's thin leaves and separate male/female plants.; vs Coprosma: Herbaceous succulent vs. Coprosma's woody shrub with glossy evergreen leaves.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tetragonia tetragonoides native to California?
No. Tetragonia tetragonoides is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Tetragonia tetragonoides bloom?
Tetragonia tetragonoides blooms Apr-Sep.
What plant family does Tetragonia tetragonoides belong to?
Tetragonia tetragonoides is in the Aizoaceae family, genus Tetragonia.
What habitat does Tetragonia tetragonoides grow in?
Tetragonia tetragonoides grows in Common. Sand dunes, bluffs, margins of coastal wetlands.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.