Regenesis Kauaʻi

Plant Database Sacha Inchi

Sacha Inchi

Plukenetia volubilis · Euphorbiaceae (spurge family)

A vigorous vine with star-shaped pods of oil-rich seeds. Seeds must be roasted.

Overview

Sacha inchi is a fast-climbing vine that produces star-shaped pods, each with several large seeds rich in oil and protein.

History

Native to the Peruvian Amazon, where it has been grown for centuries.

Growing on Kauaʻi

  • Likes warmth and steady moisture.
  • Needs a strong trellis or fence.

Planting and propagation

  • Sow seeds about 1 inch deep at the base of a trellis.

Care and maintenance

  • Tie vines to the trellis.
  • Prune to keep it from smothering nearby plants.

Role in the guild

Grow it on a sturdy trellis or fence at the sunny edge of a guild.

Harvest

Harvest pods when they turn dark brown and dry on the vine. Crack them open and roast the seeds before eating.

Uses

  • Food: roasted seeds as a snack; oil.

Important caution

Always roast the seeds before eating. Raw seeds and leaves contain compounds that can make you sick.

Problems to watch

  • Can smother other plants.
  • Root rot in soggy soil.

General guidance for Kauaʻi; conditions vary by site. Check any new plant at plantpono.org before planting.

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