Atriplex patula aka Common Orache

Atriplex patula is an annual known as common orache. It is part of the Amaranthaceae family. Its native range spans the temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere. The RHS lists it as native to Britain and Ireland. It also lists Atriplex angustifolia as another name for this plant. It grows on waste ground and arable land near coasts. Records link it with clay and other heavy soils.

Plants reach about 2.6 feet [0.8 metres] in height. They complete their life cycle in one year. They bloom from July to September. Each plant has both male and female flowers, borne apart. Wind and insects help move pollen between flowers. The plant is self-fertile: its own pollen can set seed. Seeds ripen from August to October. This overlaps with the months when the plant blooms. In late summer, it has both flowers and ripening seeds.

In gardens, common orache needs an open site in full sun. It does not grow in shade. It prefers moist soil that drains well. It grows in sand and loam, as well as clay. Soil can be mildly acid, neutral, or alkaline. It can even grow in very alkaline or salty soil. This range fits records of growth near coasts and on heavy ground. The source gives mixed advice on how rich soil should be. It says the plant prefers rich soil. Yet it also reports success in soil with few nutrients.

Records describe young leaves as a raw or cooked vegetable. They can take the place of spinach. One account calls their taste mild. Records also note food uses for the small seeds. People grind them to mix with cornmeal or thicken soups. The small seeds take much work to gather and prepare. But the food accounts do not agree on taste or use. Some call the leaves and seeds harsh or irritating. These mixed reports do not support a clear claim of food safety.

The hazard notes warn that artificial fertiliser may raise leaf nitrate levels. They also warn of possible photosensitivity after eating very large amounts. This means the skin may become more sensitive to light. Reports note a traditional use of the seeds as a laxative. This does not show what dose is safe for medicinal use. To grow new plants, sow seed in place in April or May. The source says seeds tend to sprout fast.