TL
Family
Chenopodiaceae
Botanical Name
Atriplex hortensis var. rubra
Plant Common Name
Red Butterleaves, Red Cultivated Orache
General Description
A cool-season annual originating in Asia but naturalized throughout much of the rest of the world, orache has long been cultivated for its nutritious, tasty, and attractive leaves. The variety rubra is known for its stunning red or purple leaves and stems. It has given rise to numerous showy-leaved cultivars.
Heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves with smooth or toothed margins line the upright unbranched stems. The leaves and stems have a luminous sheen when young. In hot weather stems "bolt," elongating to produce numerous spike-like clusters of inconspicuous purplish-green flowers. Although the feathery flower heads are attractive, bolting causes plants to decline in flavor. Orache bolts less readily than spinach, making it a better choice as a summer vegetable. If not deadheaded plants will self-sow, often coming true from seed.
This easy to grow crop may be started indoors or sown directly in the garden. It prefers full sun and moist, fertile, well-drained soil. It tolerates poor soils and saline conditions. Orache will withstand light frost. Sow in late fall or early spring in temperate zones and in winter in frost-free climates. Feed with a balanced fertilizer once plants begin to leaf out. Orache grows best when watered regularly.
Although well suited to the vegetable garden, red orache also makes an outstanding ornamental plant. Harvest a few leaves per plant starting about 40 days after sowing. Best flavor comes from young, vigorously growing plants. Cook orache as you would spinach, or toss it raw in salads; the colorful leaves provide a visual punch to any meal. Most red-leaved forms do not lose their color when cooked.
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
-
Plant Type
Vegetable
-
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
-
Height
1'-4' / 0.3m - 1.2m
-
Width
9"-12" / 22.9cm - 30.5cm
-
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
-
Native To
Asia
Growing Conditions
-
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
-
Soil Drainage
Average
-
Soil type
Loam, Sand
-
Tolerances
Salt
-
Growth Rate
Fast
-
Water Requirements
Average Water
-
Habit
Upright/Erect
-
Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Special Characteristics
-
Usage
Bedding Plant, Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
-
Sharp or Has Thorns
No
-
Invasive
Sometimes
-
Self-Sowing
Yes
