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Summary
Amaranthus powellii is a robust, adaptable amaranth that provides both nutritious greens and abundant edible seeds. The young leaves are mild, spinach-like, and among the best of the wild amaranths, while the seeds are prolific, easily harvested, and suitable for multiple preparations including boiling, toasting, and grinding into flour. Although it is considered a problematic weed in agriculture, its resilience and productivity make it a highly valuable wild food source. Growing vigorously in disturbed habitats, it thrives under hot summer sun and produces heavy yields by autumn. For foragers, Powell’s amaranth stands out as a reliable and versatile food plant, despite its reputation as an agricultural pest. The leaves, stems and seeds of Powell's Amaranth are edible and highly nutritious. The leaves are cooked as a spinach. The seed is also cooked and then used with cereal flours in porridge and breads. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico and has been introduced to other continents, including Australia and Europe. Common names: Powell's amaranth and green amaranth.
Physical Characteristics
Amaranthus powellii is a ANNUAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is frost tender. 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 and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Plant Habitats
Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves Seed
Edible Uses:
Powell’s amaranth provides both leaves and seeds that are of high food value. The young leaves are tender and excellent in salads or cooked as greens. Their flavor is spinach-like, often described as mild with subtle nettle-like undertones, and without harshness or sliminess. Even the stalks remain tender, making it one of the better wild leafy greens [2-3]. The seeds are abundant, reddish-black, and nutritious. They can be harvested easily by tapping mature flower spikes, which release hundreds of seeds. Processing is relatively straightforward: the seeds are already dry enough for storage and only require minimal cleaning. Seeds can be eaten raw, toasted, or boiled. Toasting improves the flavor and gives them a nutty, popcorn-like quality, though care must be taken as they tend to jump out of the pan. Boiled seeds produce a hearty grain-like mush. Their neutral, whole-grain flavor makes them versatile for use in porridges, seed bars, or flours [2-3]. Edibility Rating: 5/5 – Excellent edible species, both as greens and as a grain substitute.Leaves - cooked as a spinach[257]. Seed - cooked[257]. Used as a flour[161, 177]. Very small but easy to harvest and 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
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
Growing Conditions: Sun: Prefers full sun. Soil: Adaptable to a wide range of soils, thriving especially in disturbed, fertile soils. Moisture: Tolerates dry conditions but responds strongly to summer rains. Growth Habit: Upright annual, typically 0.5–1.5 m tall, with elongated flowering spikes that turn brown when mature. Habitat: Native to Southwestern North America, but now spread widely as a weed across the United States and introduced in other parts of the world. Found in disturbed soils, roadsides, agricultural fields, gardens, and waste places. Seeds usually mature from late summer into autumn. It will grow in Britain, though it should succeed as a spring-sown annual. 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]. Annual, frost-tender. Best suited to zones 5–9, where warm summers support rapid growth.
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 powellii (Powell’s Amaranth)
Native Range
NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah), Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Baja California (Norte), Guerrero, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla) SOUTHERN AMERICA: Ecuador, Peru, Argentina (Salta, San Juan), Chile
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.
Weedy and invasive, especially in disturbed soils and crop fields. Considered problematic in agriculture across North America, Europe, and Australia. Difficult to distinguish from related species (A. retroflexus and A. hybridus), all of which are aggressive colonizers. Despite its weediness, it is a valuable wild edible and was historically gathered as a staple.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.
| Related Plants
|
| 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 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 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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