Magenta Orach

Magenta Orach

Northern Wildflowers

$4.49
Title

Transform your garden and your plate with the striking, iridescent fuchsia foliage of Orach Magenta. Often called "Mountain Spinach," this show-stopping plant features succulent, arrow-shaped leaves that pop with a saturated deep pink hue, making it a stunning ornamental centrepiece as much as a gourmet salad green. Whether it’s shimmering with a crystalline surface in early spring or standing tall with its bold, colourful stalks in mid-summer, this vibrant plant adds an air of sophistication and a splash of neon colour to any landscape or harvest basket.

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Seed Details

Difficulty:

Very Easy

Starting Method:

Direct Sow Or Started Indoors

Watering:

Moderate Watering

Days To Germinate:

7–14 Days

Life Cycle:

Annual

Light:

Full Sun/Part Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Mountain Spinach, French Spinach, Garden Orache, Giant Lambsquarters

Scientific Name:

Atriplex hortensis

Family Name:

Amaranthaceae

Type:

Herb, Vegetable

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: Can reach 4–6 feet tall if left to flower; typically kept to 12–18 inches for harvest
  • Growth Habit: Upright, branching, and vigorous
  • Seed/Plant Spacing: Direct sow seeds 1–2 inches apart; thin to 6–10 inches apart

Bloom / Harvest Info:

  • Bloom Time: Late summer to early fall (if left to bolt)
  • Bloom Colour: Reddish or greenish spikes
  • Days to Maturity: 28 days for baby greens; 40–50 days for mature leaves
  • Days Till Harvest: 28–50 days

Garden Benefits:

  • Attracts: Predatory syrphid flies (hoverflies), which help control aphids
  • Uses: Ornamental edible, fresh salad greens, cooked spinach substitute, and dried floral arrangements
  • Resistance: Resistant to heat (slower to bolt than spinach) and highly tolerant of saline or alkaline soils

Growing Guide

Starting Instructions:

  • When: Direct sow in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, or mid-summer for a fall harvest.
  • Where: Choose a location with well-drained, fertile soil.
  • How to Plant: Sow seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep in rows 18–30 inches apart.

Germination:

  • Days to Germinate: 7–14 days
  • Soil Temperature: 10–20°C (50–68°F)

Care:

  • Light Requirements: Full sun (prefers at least 6 hours of direct light)
  • Moisture Requirements: Prefers consistent moisture; drought-tolerant but can become bitter if too dry
  • Frost Tolerance: Highly frost-tolerant; can be planted in early spring before the last frost

Tips For Success:

Pinch off flower buds to encourage the plant to branch out and produce fresh, tender leaves for a longer harvest period.

Companion Plants:

Beans, Peas, Kale, Potatoes, and Cabbage

Heritage / Special Notes:

Heirloom variety; Organic; Open-pollinated. It contains more nutrients than traditional spinach and holds its vibrant colour even after being cooked.