Bidentata Wild Amaranth (Amaranthus bidentata)

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

Amaranthus bidentata is a ANNUAL growing to 0.9 m (3ft). It 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.

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. Seed - cooked. Very small and fiddly, but the seed is very nutritious. — Used as a spinach.; Very small and fiddly, 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.

Habitat & North American Range

Roadsides and waste places. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)