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Amaranthus palmeri is often confused with:
Amaranthus retroflexus Amaranthus retroflexus
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Lantana camara Lantana camara flower
Portulaca oleracea Portulacaceae  oleracea
Ruellia simplex Ruellia simplex

Amaranthus palmeri

Phonetic Spelling
am-a-RAN-thus PALM-er-ee
Description

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:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#summer annual#edible weed#fast growing#summer flowers#dioecious#edible garden#annual#weed
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#full sun tolerant#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#summer annual#edible weed#fast growing#summer flowers#dioecious#edible garden#annual#weed
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Edible
    Herb
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Description:
    The seeds (pyxis) are dark reddish-brown in color.
  • 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.
  • 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'.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Smooth (glabrous)
    Stem Description:
    Stems and foliage are mostly smooth and lacking hairs (glabrous).
  • Landscape:
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Heat