Tulip (gnetum)
Gnetum gnemon
Young leaves are a favourite cooked green in Papua New Guinea; in Indonesia the seeds are pounded into crackers.
Hardiness: zones 11 to 12
Light: part shade
Size: about 30 ft tall, 15 ft wide
Harvest: year-round
From: Malesia to the Pacific
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.
Good for: food.
Native to: New Guinea & Melanesia, South & Southeast Asian tropics. Hardy in zones 11 to 12.
The story
In Papua New Guinea the young leaves of tulip, Gnetum gnemon, are among the most popular cooked greens, sold in bundles at every market. In Indonesia its seeds are flattened into emping crackers.
Planting
Part shade to sun, rich moist soil, frost-free. Grow from seed or a nursery plant.
Growing
A slow, upright tree. Pick shoot tips often and it stays bushy and productive.
Harvest and use
Young leaves cooked like spinach, often with coconut milk; red seeds roasted or made into crackers.
What to watch for
Male and female trees are separate, so you need both for seeds; leaves come either way.
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More perennial vegetables, greens and herbs
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home