Orache
Atriplex hortensis
Also called Red orach, Mountain spinach, Garden orache and Saltbush
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitThe medieval spinach, and the red form is grown as much for looking at as for eating — a two-metre spire of arrowhead leaves the colour of beetroot. It self-seeds everywhere; pull the seedlings and eat them.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Easy
- Water
- Every 3 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — an average winter RHS H4, to -10°C
- Size
- 1.5 m tall · 0.4 m across
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Origin
- Central Asia, long grown across Europe
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-09-21. Where a source says nothing, we say nothing.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.