Copper Plume, Organic Atriplex Seeds

Copper Plume Organic Atriplex Seed

Earthy plum-wine plumes combine easily with other colors
Strong stems carry delicate papery seed pods
Young foliage is edible like traditional orach
Certified organic seed

See product details

Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Atriplex hortensis

Days to maturity

75 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

250 Seeds

About Copper Plume, Organic Atriplex Seed, Atriplex Seed

Copper Plume is a great filler in floral arrangements. Highly productive plant with plum-wine plumes on long, strong stems feature small, paper-thin seed pods. Also known as orach and orache. This seed is certified organic.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/4"

Days to Germination

7–14 days

Germination Type

A - No Pretreatment

In-row plant spacing

12-18"

Plant profile

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

72 inches

Growth Habits

Upright

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

3,438

Color

Copper

Seed Type

Open Pollinated, Organic

Before Planting

Atriplex colors best in full sun and ordinary, freely drained soil. Choose the final position because seedlings resent disturbance, clear weeds, and keep compost modest to prevent oversized, floppy growth.

Planting

Direct sow atriplex in early spring, covering seed about 1/4 inch. Cool soil around 50–65°F supports germination; excessive warmth can reduce emergence. Thin edible-leaf types to roughly 6–12 inches, harvesting the removed seedlings. Succession sow every few weeks, and prevent unwanted seed drop where self-sowing would be a problem.

Watering

Water consistently until roots establish. Mature plants tolerate some dryness, but deeper irrigation during prolonged heat preserves leaf quality; allow drainage between soakings and avoid continually wet crowns.

Fertilizer

Most garden soils need no supplemental feed. If growth is weak in very poor ground, add compost or one light balanced application rather than high nitrogen, which reduces color and stem strength.

Harvesting

For edible atriplex, pick young leaves and tender shoot tips before stems toughen, leaving the growing point for regrowth. Ornamental types may be cut once stems develop strong color and firm texture. For seed, gather dry heads into bags before the lightweight seed scatters.

Tips

Pinch young shoots for a bushier edible or ornamental plant. Harvest tender leaves before flowering, and remove seed heads before maturity if abundant self-sowing is not wanted.

Pests & Diseases

Atriplex can develop damping-off, downy mildew, Cercospora-type leaf spots, and root rot, particularly in crowded or wet plantings. Look for seedling collapse, pale patches with growth beneath leaves, dark lesions, or rotting roots. Use clean seed-starting media, thin for airflow, rotate related crops, and avoid prolonged leaf wetness or saturated soil.

Leafminers leave pale tunnels in atriplex leaves, flea beetles make small holes, and aphids cluster on young stems. Remove mined leaves before larvae mature, protect seedlings with insect netting, and rinse off aphids. Control nearby lambsquarters and other chenopod weeds that harbor the same pests.