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Summary
Amaranthus albus (white amaranth or white pigweed) is a small, upright annual that produces some of the finest wild seeds of any North American amaranth. Unlike some species where the leaves are a stronger feature, this plant is valued almost entirely for its seeds, which were once gathered in great quantities and are still regarded as a high-quality wild food. The seeds are tiny, black, hard, and shiny, with a few tending toward reddish-brown, but the majority a glossy black. They fall freely from their papery capsules in late summer to autumn, and a light tap can release thousands at once. Because the chaff is much lighter than the seeds, winnowing is simple, and once cleaned, the harvest is easy to process and store. When toasted, the seeds develop a popcorn-like texture, making them enjoyable as a snack or as a base for seed bars. They can also be ground into flour for baking, or boiled into a hearty, grain-like porridge that is both nourishing and filling. In every preparation method, the seeds yield good results, with a mild grain-like flavor that adapts well to different uses. Their ability to store for long periods made them a particularly important resource in the past, and they remain a survival food of real value. The plant itself is modest, often overlooked, with pale greenish-white stems that gave rise to its common name “white amaranth.” It grows throughout much of the world, especially in disturbed soils, roadsides, and open fields, thriving in hot summers and tolerating poor soils. In terms of cultivation, Amaranthus albus prefers full sun and well-drained soils, producing best in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9. It is hardy as an annual and, like many amaranths, responds quickly to summer heat by flowering and producing seed within the same season. Although highly useful for its seeds, Amaranthus albus is also regarded as a weed in cultivated fields, particularly grain fields, because of its prolific seed production and ability to spread readily. Unlike A. palmeri or A. retroflexus, which are among the most noxious weeds of agriculture, white amaranth is less aggressive but still considered undesirable in farming systems. In wild foraging or garden contexts, however, it can be seen more positively as a dependable source of nutritious seed.A common annual weed with mildly flavoured edible leaves used as a spinach substitute rich in vitamins and minerals. The seeds are also edible. Common names include: White Pigweed, Tumble Pigweed, Tumbleweed, Prostrate Pigweed. U.S. name: Prostrate Pigweed. French: Amarante blanche. Spanish: bledo blanco. Portuguese: bredo-branco. German: weißer Fuchsschwanz. Brazilian: carurú-branco. Swedish: vit amarant.
Physical Characteristics
Amaranthus albus is a ANNUAL growing to 0.7 m (2ft 4in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is frost tender. It is in leaf from May to October, in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Plant Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Seed
Edible Uses:
Amaranthus albus is valued almost entirely for its seeds, which are among the best wild grains produced by North American amaranths. The small, glossy black seeds (with occasional reddish-brown ones) fall easily from the capsules and can be harvested in large numbers with little effort. Processing is straightforward since the chaff is lightweight and readily separated by winnowing [2-3]. The seeds are highly versatile. Toasting gives them a popcorn-like crunch, and they can also be boiled into a porridge, ground into flour, or combined into seed bars. Each method yields good results, with a mild, whole-grain flavor that adapts well to other foods. Their excellent storage qualities made them an important traditional food resource [2-3]. Leaves are technically edible but are not especially valued compared to the seeds, which remain the plant’s real food contribution [2-3]. Edibility Rating: 4/5 – Seeds are abundant, nutritious, easy to harvest, and store well.Leaves and young plant - cooked[177]. A mild flavour, it is rich in vitamins and minerals and is used as a spinach[K]. Seed - raw or cooked[257]. They can be ground into a flour and used to make bread[257]. Very small and fiddly, about 1mm in diameter[266], but the seed is very nutritious. The seed can be cooked whole, and becomes very gelatinous like this, but it is rather difficult to crush all of the small seeds in the mouth and thus some of the seed will pass right through the digestive system without being assimilated[K].
References More on Edible Uses
Medicinal Uses
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None known
References More on Medicinal Uses
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Other Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
We have very little information on this species but it should succeed as a spring-sown annual in Britain. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a well-drained fertile soil in a sunny position[200]. Requires a hot sheltered position if it is to do well[K]. Plants should not be given inorganic fertilizers, see notes above on toxicity. Most if not all members of this genus photosynthesize by a more efficient method than most plants. Called the 'C4 carbon-fixation pathway', this process is particularly efficient at high temperatures, in bright sunlight and under dry conditions[196].
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
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Plant Propagation
Seed - sow late spring in situ. An earlier sowing can be made in a greenhouse and the plants put out after the last expected frosts. Germination is usually rapid and good if the soil is warm[133]. A drop in temperature overnight aids germination[133]. Cuttings of growing plants root easily[206].
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Amaranthus albus (White Amaranth, White Pigweed)
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Alaska, Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Canada (Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia)
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.
Moderate to high weediness. Common in disturbed soils, crop fields, and roadsides worldwide. It can be an agricultural weed, though less aggressive than species like A. palmeri or A. retroflexus. Readily self-seeds and spreads where soil is disturbed. Considered a serious agricultural weed in southern New South Wales, Australia. It may also be weedy or invasive in parts of the US.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.
| 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 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 fimbriatus | Fringed Amaranth | Annual | 0.6 |
5-10
| F | LM | N | DM | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 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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