Jesse Saylor
Family
Chenopodiaceae
Botanical Name
Atriplex hortensis
Plant Common Name
Butterleaves, Cultivated Orache
General Description
A lovely addition to vegetable gardens, edible landscapes, and ornamental plantings, this medium-sized to large annual has been cultivated for thousands of years for its nutritious, tasty, and attractive leaves. Native to Asia, it has naturalized over much of Europe, the Mediterranean and North America.
Heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves with smooth or toothed margins line the upright unbranched stems. The leaves are green, yellowish-green, red, or purple, with a luminous sheen when young. Leaf and stem color are usually similar. 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.
Suited to either the veggie or ornamental garden, orache is most ornamental in its purple- and red-leaved forms. 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. Red-leaved forms usually do not lose their color when cooked.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
9 - 1
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Plant Type
Vegetable
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun
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Height
1'-4' / 0.3m - 1.2m
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Width
9"-12" / 22.9cm - 30.5cm
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Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
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Native To
Asia
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Salt
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Upright/Erect
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Red, Green
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Fruit Color
Tan, Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Yellow, Red, Green, Purple, Yellow Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Yellow, Red, Green, Purple
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow, Red, Green, Purple, Yellow Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Yellow, Red, Green, Purple, Yellow Green
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Bedding Plant, Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
Sometimes
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Self-Sowing
Yes
