Diacanthus Wild Amaranth (Amaranthus diacanthus)

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

Amaranthus diacanthus is a ANNUAL. 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. It prefers moist soil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves

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

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Rich in starch. — Leaves - cooked as a spinach.; 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.

Habitat & North American Range

Not known. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)