Types of Spinach

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) can be the next great addition to your garden. A flowering leafy plant, spinach is popular among health buffs due to its nutritional value. Consider growing your own spinach at home to ensure your greens are purely organic. Doing so also introduces you to the wonderful world of spinach cultivars.

Culinary applications of spinach are limitless. Spinach leaves can be enjoyed fresh in salads and served as a juice. In terms of cooking, spinach is a welcome addition in casseroles, curries, sauces, soups, and stews. If your vegetable garden overproduces spinach, you can save it for later use by canning, dehydration, and freezing.

Common Spinach Types

Different types of spinach have their own unique traits in flavor, growth, and texture. Under these types are cultivars or varieties that can be bought in seed markets and planted at home for your enjoyment.

Before we go through flat, savoy, and semi-savoy spinach types, let’s get to know the differences between heirloom and hybrid spinach varieties. 

Heirloom and Hybrid Spinach

Spinach varieties like Bloomsdale Long Standing, Noble Giant, Perpetual, Red Aztec, Strawberry, and Viroflay are considered heirloom. Through seed saving, heirloom seeds are passed down from generation to generation among distinct ethnic, familial, or any social group in a geographic region. Heirloom spinach carries similar traits as the parent plant, making them true to seed. These are essentially free from cross-breeding for at least 40 to 50 years. 

Heirloom spinach plants tend to be more susceptible to diseases: bacterial, Cladosporium and Stemphylium leaf spot, and downy mildew. To alleviate this susceptibility, hybrid spinach varieties were produced. Specific traits from two varieties can be imbued in the hybrid seed through deliberate and manual cross-breeding. In addition, enhancement for disease, cold, heat, and pest resistance can be made in hybrid varieties. These improvements are favorable among farmers or gardeners who aim to mass-produce spinach. 

True Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, and Malabar Spinach

True spinach is typically a cool-season crop. Different spinach varieties require well-drained soil and partial sunlight to grow. For regions with high temperatures, there are two popular spinach alternatives — New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) and Malabar spinach (Basella alba). Botanically, both plants are unrelated to spinach. However, chefs use them interchangeably and some seed markets categorize them as part of their spinach seed line.

Other Popular Spinach Groupings

Discover well-loved spinach varieties, sorted by specific characteristics.

Types of Spinach Stem Colors

Spinach stems come in varying colors. Apart from green-stemmed spinach, other cultivars have purple or deep red stems.

Spinach Stem Colors	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Green-stemmed Spinach	Bloomsdale Long Standing (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Dash (True Leaf Market) Lakeside (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market) New Zealand (Eden Brothers, Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Seaside (True Leaf Market)
Purple- or Red-stemmed Spinach	Red Aztec (True Leaf Market) Red Malabar (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Red Snapper (Territorial Seed Company) Red Tabby (Territorial Seed Company)

Types of Spinach Flavors

Fresh spinach leaves offer mild flavors that work well in many recipes. Some varieties taste more robust than others.

Spinach Flavors	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Bitter/Earhty Spinach	Bloomsdale Long Standing (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Noble Giant (Eden Brothers, Rare Seeds)
Mild/Sweet Spinach	Countryside (Territorial Seed Company) New Zealand (Eden Brothers, Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Perpetual (Eden Brothers) Tribute (Territorial Seed Company) Monstrueux de Viroflay or Viroflay (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds)

Types of Spinach Leaf Textures

Spinach textures are either wrinkled or smooth. Varieties with creases and ruffles in them tend to take more time and effort to wash. 

Spinach Leaf Textures	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Ruffled Spinach	Bloomsdale Savoy (Territorial Seed Company) Giant Winter (Territorial Seed Company) Noble Giant (Eden Brothers, Rare Seeds) Regiment (Territorial Seed Company) Monstrueux de Viroflay or Viroflay (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds)
Smooth Spinach	Lakeside (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market) Olympia (Territorial Seed Company) Renegade (Territorial Seed Company) Space (Territorial Seed Company) Tribute (Territorial Seed Company)

Types of Geographic Origins

There’s no certainty on the origins of spinach. Researchers believed it was first cultivated somewhere in Iran (formerly known as Persia) before spreading to the West. 

Geographic Origins	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
European and Mediterranean Spinach	Giant Winter (Territorial Seed Company) Merlo Nero (Rare Seeds) Monstrueux de Viroflay or Viroflay (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Noble Giant (Eden Brothers, Rare Seeds) Perpetual (Eden Brothers)
Central, North and South American Spinach	America (True Leaf Market) Bloomsdale Savoy (Territorial Seed Company) Red Aztec (True Leaf Market)
Asian Spinach	Alrite (True Leaf Market) Jiromaru (Rare Seeds) Mountain Spinach Japanese (Rare Seeds)  Red Malabar (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Red Snapper (Territorial Seed Company)

Types of Culinary Uses

Spinach is a hearty and leafy addition to curries, frittatas, soups, and stews. Along with other vegetables and fruits, it is one of the most popular additions to smoothies due to its nutritional value.

Culinary Uses	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Spinach for Raw Applications	Bloomsdale Long Standing (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Bloomsdale Savoy (Territorial Seed Company) Giant Winter (Territorial Seed Company) Lakeside (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market) Regiment (Territorial Seed Company)
Spinach for Stir-fry and Soups	Dash (True Leaf Market) Egyptian (True Leaf Market) Green Vines Supreme (True Leaf Market) Oceanside (True Leaf Market) Seaside (True Leaf Market)

Types of Spinach Lifecycles

Technically, spinach is considered an annual plant, but some varieties are treated as perennials.

Spinach Lifecycles	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Annual Spinach	Bloomsdale Long Standing (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Monstrueux de Viroflay or Viroflay (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) New Zealand (Eden Brothers, Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Noble Giant (Eden Brothers, Rare Seeds)
Perennial (but also grown as annual in the United States)	Green Vines Supreme (True Leaf Market) Lakeside (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market) Red Malabar (Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds)

Types of Disease Resistance

Some spinach varieties are more resistant than others.

Disease Resistance	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Disease Resistant Varieties	Countryside (Territorial Seed Company) Palco (Territorial Seed Company) Red Snapper (Territorial Seed Company) Red Tabby (Territorial Seed Company) Tribute (Territorial Seed Company)
Susceptible Varieties	Alrite (True Leaf Market) Bloomsdale Long Standing (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds)

Types of Preferred Growing Conditions

Before buying your spinach seeds, find out which varieties fit your garden conditions and resources. Doing this preliminary step ensures thriving growth of this leafy green.

Preferred Growing Conditions	Common Examples (Where to Buy)
Container Spinach	Bloomsdale Long Standing (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Monstrueux de Viroflay or Viroflay (Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) New Zealand (Eden Brothers, Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds) Noble Giant (Eden Brothers, Rare Seeds) Palco (Territorial Seed Company)
Greenhouse Spinach	Renegade (Territorial Seed Company) Seaside (True Leaf Market) Space (Territorial Seed Company)

Popular Varieties of Savoy Spinach

Heavily wrinkled leaves characterize savoy spinach types. Some varieties have curled edges, which are excellent in fresh salads. Savoy spinach tends to grow close to the ground where dust and sand can smear the leaves. A lot more time is needed for washing it to get rid of impurities before eating. Below are excellent varieties of savoy spinach you can grow at home.

Variety	Description	Days to Germination	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Bloomsdale Long Standing	This heirloom variety will satisfy home gardeners due to its early maturity, heat tolerance, and resistance to diseases, such as downy mildew (races 1 to 12, 14, and 15).	7 to 21 days	35 to 50 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds
Bloomsdale Savoy	Bloomsdale Savoy yields chunky, deep green leaves, setting a standard for home-grown spinach.	6 to 21 days	50 to 55 days	Territorial Seed Company
Regiment	Regiment is a hybrid spinach variety with robust germination performance and tolerance to downy mildew (races 1 to 7, 11, 13, and 15).	6 to 16 days	37 to 40 days	Territorial Seed Company

Popular Varieties of Semi-Savoy Spinach

When flat-leaf and savoy spinach are crossbred, it will result in a hybrid semi-savoy. Under this type are varieties with slightly fewer leaf curls and wrinkles. They are more convenient to clean compared to savoy types. 

Variety	Description	Days to Germination	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Early Hybrid No. 7	This hybrid variety is suitable for planting in all hardiness zones of the United States. Early Hybrid No. 7 was developed in 1955 to be resistant to cucumber mosaic virus and downy mildew. Fun fact — this variety is the first downy mildew-resistant spinach variety.	7 to 14 days	36 to 40 days	True Leaf Market
Giant Winter	Giant Winter is an open-pollinated variety. It yields thick leaves perfect for fresh eating or steaming. This variety can tolerate cold weather.	4 to 7 days	45 to 50 days	Territorial Seed Company
Monstrueux de Viroflay or Viroflay	Crisp and mildly sweet, the Viroflay variety can reach 10 inches in height under optimal conditions. It is a classic French heirloom spinach resilient to partial shade and full-sun exposure.	7 to 14 days	55 to 65 days	Eden Brothers, True Leaf Market, Rare Seeds
Patton	Patton is an F1 spinach with intermediate resistance to races 1 to 15 and 17 of downy mildew.	6 to 21 days	42 to 50 days	Territorial Seed Company
Space	This slow-to-bolt F1 spinach variety produces delicious dark green leaves, resistant to races 1 to 3 of downy mildew, and leaf mold. You can harvest the leaves early, 37 days after sowing.	7 to 14 days	51 to 55 days	Territorial Seed Company
Tundra	Tender and oval-shaped leaves can be enjoyed from the Tundra variety. It possesses intermediate tolerance to races 1 to 13, 15 to 16, and 18 of downy mildew.	7 to 10 days	40 to 45 days	Territorial Seed Company

Popular Varieties of Flat or Smooth Leaf Spinach

Also known as straight-leafed spinach, flat or smooth varieties do not have curls or wrinkles. They are the most convenient to clean and are highly preferred for preserving. Some varieties can be harvested as baby spinach.

Variety	Description	Days to Germination	Days to Maturity	Where to Buy
Lakeside	A Territorial Seed taste-test favorite, the Lakeside variety uniquely grows round- to oval-shaped green leaves. It has high resistance toward downy mildew races 1 to 11 and mild resistance to races 12 to 14. You can harvest them as baby leaves 25 to 30 days after sowing.	7 to 14 days	40 to 60 days	Territorial Seed Company, True Leaf Market
Oceanside	Excellent in stir-fry and soup dishes, Oceanside is a hybrid spinach variety with high resistance to races of downy mildew 1 to 9, 13, 15, and 16. Expect milder tolerance to races 12 and 14. You can sow the seeds during spring or in late summer to early fall.	7 to 14 days	40 to 60 days	True Leaf Market
Seaside	Seaside spinach has distinctly spade-shaped leaves. This variety has high resistance to races 1 to 11, 15, and 16 of downy mildew. Keep in mind — it has intermediate resistance to races 12 to 14.	7 to 14 days	40 to 60 days	True Leaf Market

FAQ About Types of Spinach