La chaya plant It is a semi-evergreen shrub that grows naturally in both Mexico and Central America. Its size is rather small, something that makes it possible to grow it both in pots and in the garden as long as the weather is good.
Its maintenance is not complicated, but also has edible and medicinal uses that cannot be ignored.
Origin and characteristics
Our protagonist is a semi-evergreen and semi-woody shrub that reaches up to six meters in height, whose scientific name is Cnidoscolus aconitifolius. It is popularly known as chaya, spinach tree, or chicasquil. Its leaves are palmate, lobed and alternate, green in color, with a size of up to 32cm. These usually fall during the dry season. The flowers are white and small, and appear in clusters.
Health benefits
Its leaves are rich in vitamins, mineral salts, trace elements and enzymes, and it is known to be a very good ally for humans as it regulates blood pressure, improves blood circulation, deflates veins and hemorrhoids, reduces cholesterol and uric acid, helps lose weight and also increases retention of calcium. The dose is 2 to 6 leaves per day, whether they are cooked in soups or salads.
What are their cares?
If you want to have a specimen of chaya, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:
- Location:
- Exterior: it must be placed in full sun, although it also tolerates semi-shade.
- Indoor: it can be in an interior patio for example, or in a room where a lot of natural light enters.
- Earth:
- Garden: it must be fertile, with good drainage.
- Pot: universal growing substrate mixed with 30% perlite.
- Irrigation: 3-4 times a week in summer, somewhat less the rest of the year.
- Subscriber: from early spring to late summer with ecological fertilizers, once a month.
- Multiplication: by seeds in spring.
- Rusticity: it does not resist cold or frost. The minimum temperature that it holds is 10ºC.
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