Red Plume, Atriplex Seeds

Red Plume Atriplex Seed

Deep red-magenta foliage supplies edible ornamental drama
Tender young leaves can be eaten like spinach
Summer heat tolerance outlasts many leafy greens
Tall plumes make striking fresh or dried accents

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Atriplex hortensis

Days to maturity

75 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

250 Seeds

About Red Plume, Atriplex Seed, Atriplex Seed

Red Plume Atriplex, also called Red Orach or Mountain Spinach, is an heirloom leafy green with deep red to magenta foliage. Upright plants can reach 4–6 feet, adding ornamental height while providing tender edible leaves. Young leaves are excellent raw in salads, while mature leaves can be cooked like spinach and retain much of their color. This heat- and drought-tolerant plant performs well in full sun and well-drained soil.

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

Red

Seed Type

Heirloom

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.