Atriplex hortensis aka Garden Orache

Atriplex hortensis is an annual grown for leaves you can eat. It has several common names. These include garden orache, mountain spinach, and butter leaves. It belongs to Amaranthaceae, the amaranth family. Its native range runs from the Caucasus to Central Asia. It grows in temperate regions. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Records place it on farms, waste ground, and shingle.

The plant grows upright, with tall stems that bear leaves. The RHS gives a stem height of 2–6 feet [0.6–1.8 metres]. Its garden size list gives heights to 8.2 feet [2.5 metres]. The listed spread reaches 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. The green leaves have a triangle shape. Pick them while they are still young and tender. Small reddish-green flowers grow in groups in summer. They add little show, and plants tend to set seed.

Grow garden orache in full sun and soil that drains well. The RHS lists both sand and loam as suitable soils. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soil. It needs a moderate amount of water. Give it more water in dry spells. The RHS says this helps prevent bolting, or early flowering. Heat can also end the leaf harvest early. Sow seed to grow new plants. The RHS suggests cutting plants back after they finish flowering. Its UK hardiness rating is H2. This means it cannot survive freezing. Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA zones 2–11 for this annual.

Garden orache suits food beds, flower borders, and informal gardens. Its upright shape adds structure among lower plants. The RHS also lists it for cut flowers. Eat young leaves raw in salads or cook them like spinach. You can eat the tender shoots too. Leaves can yield several crops in spring and early summer. Seeds have food uses, but need care before you eat them. They contain bitter compounds called saponins. Rinsing and cooking them well can reduce these compounds. Avoid eating large amounts of foods that contain them.

The RHS reports few problems with pests or disease. Bolting is a more likely concern when growing leaves for food. Too much artificial fertilizer can cause harmful nitrate levels in leaves. This risk matters even though people grow the plant for food. PFAF records folk uses meant to treat health problems. These include things made to increase urine flow or cause vomiting. These records do not show that such treatments work or are safe. Other recorded uses include making blue dye from seeds. PFAF also notes its potential as a biomass crop.