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Hablitzia tamnoides
Climbing Spinach, Habby, Spinach Vine
  • Hardy to Zone 3
  • Full Sun to Full Shade
  • Germination Tested November 29, 2024: 80%
  • Approximately 70-80 seeds per pack
Regular price $5.50 CAD
Regular price Sale price $5.50 CAD
Sale Sold out

Caucasian spinach is a cold-tolerant vining perennial that produces tasty greens early spring to fall. It is hardy to zone 3 and can live for decades! It can grow in sun or shade- try planting it underneath fruit trees for it to clamber up.

Caucasian spinach is one of the first greens to emerge in the spring. The new shoots are edible and can be eaten like small asparagus. Throughout the season it will grow vines up to 10 feet long, covered in tasty leaves that can be enjoyed raw or cooked. Their favour is mild, similar to lettuce, and the leaves are thin like lettuce as well. It prefers to grow in full sun but can grow in partial shade as well. Can be grown under fruit trees, or on a trellis, fence, or bush. It sometimes needs some help to climb.

Caucasian spinach does not like heavy, damp soils. Ensure it is planted in a well draining spot. You can plant it on a small mound if your soil is very heavy or wet. It is slow growing in its first year, but will eventually form a large clump that can be divided with a shovel to make more plants.

This is a genetically-diverse mix from a few different sources, so you can select your favourite plants to propagate.

Growing Instructions

Growing instructions: Seeds can be tricky to germinate. Benefits from cold stratification. If you want to start them indoors, you can use a fridge to cold stratify. Fold seeds into damp paper towel and put in a sealed bag or container. Or sow in sterile potting mix in a sealed container. Place seeds in fridge for 30 days. They should sprout around the 30 day mark, but check regularly in case they sprout early. If you used paper towel, carefully transfer sprouted seeds to small pot, or plant the whole sheet of paper towel if the roots have developed already.

The easier way to start these is to let nature cold stratify the seeds for you. Sow the seeds in a small pot outdoors in late winter (Jan or Feb on the west coast). Cold temperatures will stratify the seeds naturally, and they will sprout when it warms up.

The young seedlings are delicate- don't let them dry out, or get too waterlogged. Once the seedlings develop true leaves, they can be pricked out into their own pots or planted in the ground.

Caucasian spinach does not like heavy, damp soils. Ensure it is planted in a well draining spot. You can plant it on a small mound if your soil is very heavy or wet. It is slow growing in its first year, but will eventually form a large clump that can be divided with a shovel to make more plants.

Shipping & Returns

We ship seeds via Canada Post within Canada for $6 to $8 depending on weight, and Internationally for a flat rate of $20*. Shipping costs to the US will include the cost of a phytosanitary inspection and certificate, as well as tariffs.

Live plants, bulbs, and bulbils can only be shipped within Canada. 

Shipping fees listed here are in Canadian dollars, and may change without notice.

 

Shipping in Canada 

We ship seeds in Canada via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-3 weeks to arrive once we fulfill your order, but occasionally orders take longer, especially to the Eastern provinces and rural areas.

Customers can now opt for tracked, express shipping options at checkout if you require faster delivery.

Larger bulbs and plants are sent via tracked flat rate box.

 

Shipping to the US

Shipping charges to the US will also now include a government phytosanitary inspection and certificate. This will be bundled into the shipping cost. We ship via Canada Post, and any applicable duties will be calculated at checkout. So far (as of Sept 1, 2025), it's looking like there are no duties charged on seeds. 

Please expect delays for US shipping, as during busy times it can take up to 2 weeks for us to book a phytosanitary inspection.

 

Shipping Internationally

International customers can select tracked or untracked shipping at checkout. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit. We are not able to send any live plant materials internationally. Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held or confiscated by customs, or for any additional duties or tariffs placed on your order.

International shipping countries include: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.

This list may change without notice. Sometimes Canada Post will not allow us to ship to certain countries due to wars or natural disasters, see this page for delivery service alerts: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/service-alerts.page

Please reach out if your country is not on this list, email us and we will try to arrange an alternate shipping option. 

 

Return Policy

If you have any issues with your order, please contact us within 60 days and we will do our best to make it right.

Ecologically Grown

Seeds are grown ecologically without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.

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Customer Reviews

Based on 13 reviews
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C
Celine Wade
My failure

I probably made a mistake by planting them outside. I am waiting for their growth and I am not giving up. Otherwise I will order them again and plant the seeds inside. I am a debutante in the respect of seeding.

m
mj labrie

Caucasian Spinach Seeds - Hablitzia tamnoides - Climbing Spinach, Habby, Spinach Vine

R
Rosa van Meel
Great Germination rate

It germinated well, now I will be carefully nurturing my seedlings.
Fingers crossed.

B
Beate Marquardt
Well, they germinated

When I received the Caucasian Spinach seeds I didn't know if they had been stratified. I emailed my question and got a great reply in 2 hours. Consequently, I started the seeds in my fridge. After 17 days the first little sprouts appeared. Now, I hope they will continue growing on my window sill. So far so good. I'm very happy.

A
Alayna
Arrived quickly, started sprouting in the...

Arrived quickly, started sprouting in the fridge in less than a month!