Thai water spinach (Pak Boong) is a fast-growing, hollow-stemmed aquatic vine with arrowhead-shaped leaves and trumpet-like flowers, known for its tender stems and mild, slightly sweet, vegetal flavor, making it a staple in Southeast Asian stir-fries, soups, and curries, prized for its vibrant green color and quick cooking time.
Stems: Long, hollow, smooth, succulent, and tender, ranging from green to whitish.
Leaves: Light to dark green, heart-shaped or arrowhead-shaped (sagittate) with long petioles (leaf stalks).
Flowers: Trumpet-shaped, usually white with a mauve center, but can also be pink or pale lilac.
Taste: Mild, slightly nutty, with sweet and mineral notes, not bitter like regular spinach.
Texture: Crisp and pliable when young, becoming tender when cooked.
Culinary Uses: Popular in Thai dishes like Pad Pak Boong Fai Daeng (stir-fried with garlic and chili), curries, and soups, often cooked quickly to retain color.
Habitat: Grows in water or moist soil, rooting at nodes, with long, trailing vines.
Climate: Thrives in tropical, warm, humid conditions and is intolerant of frost.
Common Names:
Water Spinach, Morning Glory, Kangkong, Swamp Cabbage, Chinese Spinach, Ong Choy.
| Type |
Spinach |
| Family |
Amaranth Family |
| Temperature Soil |
45-65F |
| Temperature Daytime |
60-65F |
| Temperature Evening |
40F+ |
| Lighting |
Full, 6-8 Hous Per Day |
| Water |
Steady, 6 Gallons / Week |
| Maturity |
Short, 35-55 Days Harvest |
| Zones |
3A-9B |
| Plant Placement |
4 Plants, 4 Per Row |