Pigweed Amaranth Amaranthus retroflexus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Amaranthus retroflexus var. salicifolius
- Phonetic Spelling
- am-a-RAN-thus ret-roh-FLEKS-us
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Pigweed is a multi-stemmed summer annual in the Amaranth family. Whether it is native to North Carolina or an introduced and naturalized species is debated among botanists. Considered a weed, it can be found growing in wastelands, prairies, fallow fields, farm lots, gravelly areas, and cultivated fields. It is not recommended for most gardens. Its invasiveness causes yield loss in many vegetable row crops. It grows unbranched or with minimal branches.
The seeds are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. They are sometimes ground into a powder and eaten as a substitute for cereal. Sprouts can be added to salads. Although portions of this plant are edible, ingestion is detrimental to pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, and horses.
This variety of pigweed is different in appearance than other common weeds in the same family. However, it can be identified by its shorter and stouter growth habit. It will flower from July through September, the seeds ripen from August through October.
It is typically pollinated by the wind.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Plant damaging insects are not attracted to this plant.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Amaranthus
- Species:
- retroflexus
- Family:
- Amaranthaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The seeds may be eaten, raw or cooked, ground into a flour, or sprouted. The young leaves are also edible.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Central and Eastern North America
- Distribution:
- This plant is now found nearly worldwide as an introduced plant.
- Wildlife Value:
- A food source for birds, butterflies, moths, insects and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- The seeds may be eaten raw, or toasted. They can also be sprouted. Ground seeds can be used as a cereal. Young leaves may be eaten raw or cooked.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Native Plant
- Weed
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- One glossy black to dark reddish brown seed is revealed when the bladder-like capsule splits, circumferentially, at maturity. As many as 117,000 seeds can be produced per plant.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Spike
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Numerous, small, green monoecious flowers with prominent bracts that are longer than their tepals. Flowers clustered in spikes on panicles.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Rhomboidal
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are smaller in the upper portion of the central stem. Each leaf base is rounded, the tip can be acute, obtuse, emarginate, or rounded.. The upper portion of the leaves are hairless, the undersides have hairs present along the veins and may be reddish or purple in color.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The central stem is stout, rounded, veined and covered with white hairs. The stems are reddish near the base of the plant.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Meadow
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Problems:
- Problem for Horses
- Weedy
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Nitrate poisoning in horses and ruminants is characterized by a bluish cast to the mucous membranes, respiratory distress, weakness and trembling. High oxalate ingestion can result in kidney failure.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Pigweeds accumulate nitrates, which can lead to nitrate poisoning in grazing animals such as horses and ruminants. Levels may b
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Stems
