KALRO Spider Flower Production

Spider plant is an important African indigenous vegetable. It is also known as the spider flower African cabbage, spider wisp, and whiskers in other African countries. Spider plant is considered a green leafy vegetable. This vegetable is very nutritious and contain minerals such iron, calcium, and micronutrients such as Vitamin A (beta-carotene) and Vitamin C required to complement the staple diets. After cooking, spider plant retains vitamins better than other vegetables thus a major contributor to nutrition security. Being accessible to the low-income communities in rural and urban areas, spider plant offers an opportunity of improving the nutritional status of many poor families whose health and nutrition are at risk.

Areas of Production: Western (Vihiga, Kakamega and Bungoma), Nyanza (Nyamira, Kisii,), Nairobi, and Coastal (Taita Taveta) regions of Kenya.

Other names: Chisaka, Tsisaka (Luhya), Chinsaga (Ekegusii), Dek (Luo), Saget (Kalenjin), Thageti (Kikuyu), and Mwangani (Kiswahili)