Palmer's pigweed Amaranthus palmeri
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-a-RAN-thus PALM-er-ee
- Description
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Palmer amaranth, also known as Palmer pigweed, is an extremely aggressive, fast-growing species that has become a serious weed problem in vegetable and row crops in the southern half of the United States in recent years. It has also been introduced to Europe, Australia, and other areas. The plant is fast-growing (up to 1 inch a day) and highly competitive. It is adapted to heat and extremely low rainfall.
Palmer amaranth is a tall, erect, branching summer annual, commonly reaching heights of 6–8 feet, and occasionally 10 feet or more.
Male and female flowers form on separate plants (dioecious).
This ameranth has rapid seed germination and growth and larger root structures than other species. One plant can produce up to 500,000 seeds. Cultivation and flaming are most effective on plants that are less than 1 inch tall.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amaranthus
- Species:
- palmeri
- Family:
- Amaranthaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- S. California to Texas and Mexico
- Distribution:
- AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NE, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat, drought (extremely low rainfall)
- Edibility:
- The leaves and seeds are eaten. The seeds can be ground into a flour. The leaves can be cooked or dried.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Description:
- The seeds (pyxis) are dark reddish-brown in color.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Inconspicuous flowers. Male and female flowers form on separate plants (dioecious). The flowers form on spikes up to 18 inches long. Female flowers are bristly to the touch and male spikes are softer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Obovate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Stems and foliage are mostly smooth and lacking hairs (glabrous). Leaves have fairly long petioles and are arranged symmetrically around the stem, giving the plant a distinctly poinsettia-like appearance when viewed from above. Petioles are longer than with common pigweed. Leaf-blades are elliptical to diamond-shaped with pointed tips, and measure 0.6–3 inches long by 0.4–1.5 inches wide. Some leaves may have a white watermark shaped like a 'V'.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems and foliage are mostly smooth and lacking hairs (glabrous).
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Landscape:
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
