Bassia scoparia aka Burningbush

Bassia scoparia grows fast and lives for one year. It belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. It is native to eastern Europe and temperate Asia. Garden names include summer cypress, burning bush, and kochia. Its old name, Kochia scoparia, means the same species. It now grows across North America on disturbed ground. It spreads along roadsides and in ditches. It also grows on floodplains and waste ground.

Plants grow as upright, bushy columns with fine, soft leaves. Garden plants reach about 2–5 feet [0.6–1.5 metres] tall. Sources give different widths: about 1.6–3 feet [0.5–0.9 metres]. Larger plants reach 7–8 feet [2.1–2.4 metres] tall and wide. The narrow leaves are pale green. They grow in turns along each side of the stems. They have no stalks, and their edges are smooth. Some have a few hairs, most along their edges. Leaves turn red or reddish purple as autumn nears. Upright stems have fine ribs and green or red tones.

Small green flowers bloom in summer. Missouri Botanical Garden gives July–August as the bloom time. The flowers have no petals. They sit among bracts, which look like leaves. Their small size adds little to a garden display. Dry fruits turn from green to brown as they ripen. Each fruit has five thin wings around its seed. The small, oval seeds range from dark brown to black. Older stems can break free and roll as tumbleweeds. As they roll, they spread seeds beyond the parent plant.

Grow this plant in full sun with soil that drains well. It accepts sand, loam, chalk, and clay. It grows across a broad soil pH range. Moist soil rich in humus suits it. It also copes with drought and salt. Sow seeds in spring. Plant out once the risk of frost has passed. RHS rates it H2; plants do not survive freezing. Sources list USDA zones 2–11 for this annual. Use it in beds, along edges, or in pots. It also forms short-lived screens or hedges. Light trims in summer can keep its shape neat. Serious pests and diseases are not usual problems. Yet it sets lots of seed and resists some herbicides. Several US states list it as a noxious weed.

People make brooms from the whole plant. Reports also note its use as forage and to curb erosion. People have eaten cooked young leaves. They have also added ground seeds to flour. In Japan, people use prepared seeds as a garnish called tonburi. Food use calls for care, not casual tasting. The plant has saponins; do not eat large amounts. Its seeds also have harmine. This can harm the gut and nervous system. Traditional medicine uses it for skin and urinary complaints.