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Atriplex hortensis var. rubra (Red Mountain Spinach)

Red Mountain Spinach, Red Orach, Mountain Spinach, French Spinach

Atriplex Hortensis Var. Rubra, Red Mountain Spinach, Red Orach, Mountain Spinach, French Spinach

Very ornamental, Atriplex hortensis var. rubra (Red Mountain Spinach) is an erect, hardy annual plant, with lance-shaped, thin, deep red-purple leaves, 6 in. long (15 cm) and vertical racemes packed with tiny red-purple flowers, which give way to papery seeds. Slightly salty, the leaves are delicious in salads or cooked like spinach. A multiple-purpose plant!

  • Quickly grows up to 3-4 ft. tall (60-75 cm) and 18-24 in. wide (45-60 cm).
  • Performs best in full sun in well-drained soils. Water freely in dry weather.
  • Easy to grow, this plant is a welcomed addition to bedsborders, or cottage gardens. Great as cut flowers too, as it has a vase life of 7 days.
  • Generally pest and disease free.
  • Propagate by seed in succession from spring to early summer. Self-seeds so remove flower heads to prevent this, if required. May need staking.
  • Cut back after flowering.
  • Native to Asia and Europe, and widely naturalized in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.

Atriplex can be annuals, perennials, shrubs, or sub-shrubs, with simple, often silvery, leaves and usually inconspicuous flowers in summer

Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Plant Type Annuals
Plant Family Amaranthaceae
Common names Saltbush, Orach
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid)
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage
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Recommended Companion Plants

Geum ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’ (Avens)
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ (Siberian Bugloss)
Aquilegia Songbird ‘Dove’ (Columbine)
Anchusa azurea (Italian Bugloss)
Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’ (Siberian Iris)
Lupinus ‘The Governor’ (Lupine)

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A Very Attractive Border Idea for Your Garden
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
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Requirements

Hardiness 4 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 9
Plant Type Annuals
Plant Family Amaranthaceae
Common names Saltbush, Orach
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Late)
Summer (Early, Mid)
Height 3' - 4'
(90cm - 120cm)
Spread 1' - 2'
(30cm - 60cm)
Spacing 24" (60cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Showy
Garden Uses Beds And Borders
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage
How Many Plants
Do I Need?

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