JeJe's Garden

The African Bitterleaf (Vernonia amygdalina) is a culturally important African vegetable. The Bitterleaf is a highly appreciated vegetable in west and central Africa. It has both nutritional and medicinal uses. In Cameroon, the processed leaves are cooked with meat and njanga (dried prawns) and mixed with ground peanuts to make a famous delicious dish called ndole. The leaves are also mixed with egusi to make Bitterleaf Egusi.

The Bitterleaf plant is a perennial shrub native to Africa. However, it can be cultivated with success in colder climates. I have been growing the African Bitterleaf with successs in my Texas backyard garden since the year 2001.

One of the most common questions I get asked is “will my Bitterleaf survive the winter?” or “will my Bitterleaf come back after frost damage?” Whether your Bitterleaf plant survives the frost or not, depends on the preparatory work before winter and the age of the Bitterleaf. To prepare the Bitterleaf for winter, trim down the stems and apply a thick layer of mulch. Older Bitterleaf plants with well established root systems will produce new shoots in the spring when the temperatures rise. That has been my experience with growing the Bitterleaf plant.

Bitterleaf can be propagated from stem cuttings and by seeds. The seeds are collected from the dry flower heads. Seeds can be sown on nursery beds prepared from nutrient rich soil, shaded from excessive heat or sunlight and watered regularly to germinate. The rate of germination is impacted by the temperature of the environment. Seedlings can be transplanted 4-6 weeks after emergence. Propagation by stem cuttings is preferred by many as they grow faster. The stems are planted erect or slanted at 45 degrees to obtain more side shoots.

While traditionally grown directly in ground, the African Bitterleaf plant can be cultivated in containers. When growing Bitterleaf in containers, use container sizes at least 5 gallons in size. Container gardening of Bitterleaf is great because the plant can be taken indoors in areas where the frost lasts for longer periods.

I have successfully started Bitterleaf from seeds and produced seeds in my Zone 9a garden in the span of less than a year. I have also propagated Bitterleaf via stem cuttings successfully in my garden abroad. I have had bountiful harvests with Bitterleaf grown in containers and in ground.

The African Bitterleaf can be successfully cultivated in colder climates abroad either by seed or stem propagation. While it is subject to frost damage, it is a resilient vegetable and will likely sprout when spring comes with warmer weather. If you love this African super vegetable, geographical location should not be an issue. You can successfully grow the African Bitterleaf abroad.

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