Devil's Horsewhip (Achyranthes aspera)

Family: Amaranthaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Achyranthes aspera is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft). It is in flower from July to September, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Leaves - cooked. Used as a spinach substitute. Seed - cooked. The seeds are said to be eaten with milk in order to check hunger without loss of body weight. The brown oviod seed is about 2mm long. — Used as a spinach substitute.; The seeds are said to be eaten with milk in order to check hunger without loss of body weight.; The brown oviod seed is about 2mm long.

Habitat & North American Range

Open dry places at elevations up to 2000 metres in Nepal. More or less naturalized as a weed in waste ground in southern Europe. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)