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Summary
Fringed amaranth (Amaranthus fimbriatus) is a native desert annual that provides both nutritious greens and high-quality seeds. The leaves are mild enough for fresh use in salads or for cooking as a spinach substitute, while the abundant black seeds are easy to harvest, process, and store. This species is especially well suited to desert foragers, appearing after summer rains and producing food at a time when resources can be scarce. Unlike some amaranths, it does not pose significant weed threats and fits naturally into arid ecosystems. Both its edibility and cultural history make it one of the most useful native amaranths of the American Southwest.
Physical Characteristics
Amaranthus fimbriatus is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Wind.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Homotypic Synonyms: Amblogyna fimbriata (Torr.) A.Gray. Sarratia berlandieri var. fimbriata Torr.
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Fringed amaranth is an excellent wild food resource of the deserts of the American Southwest. Both leaves and seeds are edible, and it is one of the more palatable wild amaranths. The leaves are mild-tasting, suitable for salads when young and tender, or lightly cooked as a leafy vegetable. Unlike some related species, they lack harsh or acrid overtones, making them easier to prepare and enjoy [2-3]. The seeds are particularly valuable. They are small, black, and produced in large quantities inside distinctive fringed capsules that readily split open when mature. This makes harvesting relatively easy. Processing is straightforward: the papery chaff separates cleanly from the seeds with little effort, especially when the plant material is dried. Seeds can be eaten raw, toasted, boiled into porridge, ground into flour, or made into seed cakes and bars. In all preparations, they yield reliable results, ranking with other top wild amaranths for quality [2-3]. Edibility Rating: 5/5 – High-quality wild leafy greens and seeds; versatile, nutritious, and easy to process.
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
None Known
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Amaranthus fimbriatus (fringed amaranth) ranges from about 10–80 cm tall, depending on moisture and competition, with clumps or branched plants spreading roughly 15–40 cm. Its floral biology matches the genus norm: the flowers are non-showy and mainly wind-pollinated, again with incidental small insect visitation but no reliance on them. An annual and grows primarily in the desert or dry shrubland biome. Growing Conditions: Sun: Thrives in full sun. Soil: Tolerates sandy, rocky, and poor soils; does well in disturbed ground. Moisture: Well adapted to dry conditions, emerging after seasonal rains. Growth Habit: Typically smaller and more delicate than cultivated amaranths, with finely fringed floral bracts that give the species its name. Habitat: Native to the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts. Appears after summer rains in desert washes, flats, and open sandy soils. Blooms and produces seed in late summer to autumn, often in synchrony with desert monsoon rains. USDA Hardiness Zones: Grown as an annual. Suitable for zones 5–10, but naturally adapted to hot, arid desert climates.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).
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Plant Propagation
Seed.
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Fringed Amaranth (Amaranthus fimbriatus (Torr.) Benth. ex S. Watson).
Native Range
Arizona, California, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, New Mexico, Texas, Utah
Weed Potential
Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section.
Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.
Native species, not considered invasive. Colonizes desert flats and disturbed areas but doesn’t typically outcompete other native vegetation. Less of a weed problem compared to aggressive species like A. palmeri or A. retroflexus.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Not available
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Amaranthus acanthochiton | Greenstripe Amaranth | Annual | 0.5 |
7-10
| F | LM | N | DM | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Amaranthus albus | Prostrate Pigweed | Annual | 0.7 |
4-10
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus bidentata | | Annual | 0.9 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Amaranthus blitoides | Mat Amaranth | Annual | 0.2 |
4-10
| | LMH | N | M | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus blitum | Slender Amaranth, Purple amaranth | Annual | 1.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Amaranthus campestris | | Annual | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Amaranthus caudatus | Love Lies Bleeding | Annual | 2.0 |
4-8
| | LMH | N | DM | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Amaranthus cruentus | Purple Amaranth, Red amaranth | Annual | 2.0 |
4-10
| | LMH | N | M | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Amaranthus diacanthus | | Annual | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus dubius | Spleen Amaranth | Annual | 1.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus frumentaceus | | Annual | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus graecizans | Spreading Pigweed, Mediterranean amaranth | Annual | 0.5 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus hybridus | Rough Pigweed, Slim amaranth | Annual | 2.0 |
5-12
| | LMH | N | M | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Amaranthus hypochondriacus | Prince's Feather, Prince-of-wales feather | Annual/Perennial | 1.2 |
3-10
| | LMH | N | M | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Amaranthus mangostanus | | Annual | 1.5 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus mitchellii | Boggabri Weed | Annual | 0.5 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus pallidiflorus | | Annual | 1.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus palmeri | Careless Weed | Annual | 0.9 |
6-12
| F | LMH | N | M | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus polygamus | | Annual | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Amaranthus polystachyus | | Annual | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus powellii | Powell's Amaranth | Annual | 1.5 |
5-11
| F | LMH | N | M | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus quitensis | Ataco | Annual | 1.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus retroflexus | Pigweed, Redroot amaranth, Wild Beet | Annual | 0.9 |
5-11
| | LMH | N | M | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Amaranthus spinosus | Spiny Amaranth | Annual | 0.6 |
4-11
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Amaranthus standleyanus | Indehiscent Pigweed | Annual | 0.7 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus tenuifolius | | Annual | 0.0 |
-
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus thunbergii | Thunberg's Pigweed, Thunberg's amaranthus | Annual | 0.5 |
0-0
| | LMH | N | M | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus torreyi | Torrey's amaranthus | Annual | 0.8 |
6-10
| F | LMH | N | M | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Amaranthus tricolor | Chinese Spinach, Joseph's-coat, Fountain Plant, Tampala , Summer Poinsettia | Annual | 1.0 |
3-11
| M | LMH | N | M | 3 | 1 | 2 |
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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.
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Expert comment
Author
(Torr.) Benth.
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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Subject : Amaranthus fimbriatus
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