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Mashua is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant which makes a fantastic addition to any food forest or perennial vegetable garden, having edible tubers, leaves and flowers, and being highly ornamental.
Related to common garden nasturtiums, mashua is native to the Peruvian Andes and regions of Ecuador, Bolivia, and Columbia and has been consumed there for thousands of years. It is known as cubio in Colombia, mashua in Perú and Ecuador, and isaño or añu (anu) in Bolivia.
Given another plant or structure to climb up, mashua can grow 2-4m tall. Otherwise it will trail as a groundcover. It can work well climbing up corn in the vege garden, or up trees and shrubs in a food forest.
Certified organic plant in 11cm pot – rooted tuber with vine growing
Mashua can grow on a wide range of soils including marginal and rocky soils, but thrives best in fertile organic soils. It enjoys cool summer temperatures, with temperatures remaining below 27 degrees, and is happy in an overcast, drizzly climate (remember they hail from elevations of over 3000m in the Andes, where the average annual temperature is 11 C). In the right conditions one plant can produce up to 8kg of tubers in a season, which, like potatoes, can be either consumed or used as replant tubers. In hotter, drier and sunnier areas of Aotearoa, part shade and summer irrigation will be required for plants to do well. A reasonably long frost-free autumn is also required as the tubers do not start to set until day length drops below 14 hours. Plants will tolerate a light frost but a heavy frost will kill the leaves and damage the tubers. Tubers are harvested in the early winter and can be left in the sun for up to a week to develop a sweeter flavour if required.
Mashua has been used by indigenous peoples to treat a range of ailments including sexually transmitted diseases, pulmonary and kidney problems, parasitic infestations, wounds, rashes, and internal and external inflammatory conditions. Science has shown mashua to have antioxidant, antibacterial and diuretic properties due to its isothiocyanates compounds. It also contains glucosinolates (mustard oils) which have anti-biotic and anti-cancer properties, and high levels of phenolic compounds, including multiple anthocyanins, which supports the wound healing and skin protecting activities the plant has traditionally been used for. These levels of anthocyanins are particularly high in darker coloured tubers.
Mashua tubers have the highest levels of vitamin C, carotene and protein of any tubers, according to some studies. They are also very high in vitamins B1 and B2, calcium and iron.
Primary Actions: antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-biotic, anti-cancer, diuretic, vulnerary
Parts Used: tubers, leaves, flowers
N.B. Shipping costs are added AFTER you have placed your order, you will then be emailed an invoice with bank details.
Smallest box rate:
This can fit up to 9 plants in 9cm pots.
Shipping a single tree can be expensive. We may be able to fit more in the box for the same price! See our shipping rates for single and multi tree boxes.
Combining sizes?
No problem, we will work out the best rate for you once you’ve placed your order.
Jo has a passion for growing herbs but is not a qualified herbalist and has no medical background.
We are lucky to have Patricia Beagle working here at times, who is qualified, and some of her advice does appear on these pages, but herbs act differently for different people and can interact with other medicines. We therefore always recommend that you consult with your own qualified health-care practitioner before using herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing or on any medications.
Kahikatea Farm cannot take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants or a plant not having the effect it is reputed to have.
