Redroot Amaranth
Amaranthus retroflexus
Also listed as Galliaria retroflexa, Pyxidium retroflexum
Also known as Redroot Pigweed, Common Amaranth, Red Rooted Pigweed
Climate Match for your location
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A fast-growing warm-season annual with reddish stems and dense, upright flower spikes. Highly adaptable and often considered a weed, though it can be cultivated ornamentally for its attractive foliage and seed heads.
Why grow it
Redroot amaranth matures rapidly in warm weather and tolerates poor, compacted soils better than many ornamental alternatives, making it useful for quick biomass production or gap-filling in disturbed sites. Compared to grain amaranths, it produces smaller seeds but denser foliage suitable for cut flowers or dried arrangements. The plant's heat and drought tolerance can be advantageous in water-limited regions where conventional annuals struggle.
Watch out for
Self-seeding is vigorous, so deadheading or prompt removal after flowering prevents unintended spread into adjacent plantings. In regions where it has naturalized, containment through mulching or barrier methods may be necessary to prevent volunteer seedlings in following seasons. Very dense plantings can develop fungal issues in humid conditions, so adequate spacing and air circulation support plant health.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Central America and South America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A fast-growing warm-season annual with reddish stems and dense, upright flower spikes. Highly adaptable and often considered a weed, though it can be cultivated ornamentally for its attractive foliage and seed heads.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Redroot Amaranth grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Redroot amaranth matures rapidly in warm weather and tolerates poor, compacted soils better than many ornamental alternatives, making it useful for quick biomass production or gap-filling in disturbed sites. Compared to grain amaranths, it produces smaller seeds but denser foliage suitable for cut flowers or dried arrangements. The plant's heat and drought tolerance can be advantageous in water-limited regions where conventional annuals struggle.
Watch out for
Self-seeding is vigorous, so deadheading or prompt removal after flowering prevents unintended spread into adjacent plantings. In regions where it has naturalized, containment through mulching or barrier methods may be necessary to prevent volunteer seedlings in following seasons. Very dense plantings can develop fungal issues in humid conditions, so adequate spacing and air circulation support plant health.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Central America and South America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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