About
Atriplex hortensis is an upright annual that grows between 0.6 and 1.8 meters in height. Its stems are adorned with triangular green leaves, which can be harvested when young and tender for use as a leafy vegetable similar to spinach. In the summer, the plant produces clusters of small, inconspicuous reddish-green flowers.
About the genus
Atriplex encompasses a variety of growth forms, including annuals, perennials, shrubs, and sub-shrubs. The foliage is typically simple and frequently exhibits a silvery hue, while the flowers, which appear during the summer, are generally not prominent.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1-2 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden, Architectural
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in well-drained soil in full sun, water freely in dry weather to prevent bolting
- Pruning
- Cut back after flowering
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free