Mashua
Tropaeolum tuberosum
Also known as Anu
Climate Match for your location
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Mashua is a frost-sensitive perennial vine from the Andes grown primarily for its edible, starchy tubers that form underground. The plant produces bright orange flowers and can be used as a productive vegetable crop in temperate regions where it is replanted annually.
Why grow it
Mashua offers yields comparable to potato in similar growing conditions, but with notably higher protein and mineral content in the tubers. Unlike potato, mashua produces edible leaves and flowers that can extend harvest value, and the vines provide living mulch and ground cover benefits typical of perennial crop systems. For growers in cool climates seeking crop diversity beyond standard root vegetables, mashua fills a productive niche where other Andean tuber crops may struggle.
Watch out for
Mashua tubers develop bitter compounds (saponins) when exposed to light during storage or growth, so consistent earthing-up and dark storage conditions are necessary for palatability. The vines are vigorous and can become tangled, requiring regular trellising attention during the growing season. Yields vary considerably with day length and photoperiod, so gardeners in higher latitudes may find production less reliable than closer to the equator.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Tropaeolaceae
Native Range
Andes Mountains (Peru, Bolivia)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Climber
Vines that climb the layers above on a support.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Mashua is a frost-sensitive perennial vine from the Andes grown primarily for its edible, starchy tubers that form underground. The plant produces bright orange flowers and can be used as a productive vegetable crop in temperate regions where it is replanted annually.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Mashua grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Mashua offers yields comparable to potato in similar growing conditions, but with notably higher protein and mineral content in the tubers. Unlike potato, mashua produces edible leaves and flowers that can extend harvest value, and the vines provide living mulch and ground cover benefits typical of perennial crop systems. For growers in cool climates seeking crop diversity beyond standard root vegetables, mashua fills a productive niche where other Andean tuber crops may struggle.
Watch out for
Mashua tubers develop bitter compounds (saponins) when exposed to light during storage or growth, so consistent earthing-up and dark storage conditions are necessary for palatability. The vines are vigorous and can become tangled, requiring regular trellising attention during the growing season. Yields vary considerably with day length and photoperiod, so gardeners in higher latitudes may find production less reliable than closer to the equator.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Tropaeolaceae
Native Range
Andes Mountains (Peru, Bolivia)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Climber
Vines that climb the layers above on a support.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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