Aug

Spiny Amaranth is the best amaranth for hot sunny places

Posted by frann under Not so common herbs

spinyamaranth Spiny Amaranth is the best amaranth for hot sunny places Spiny amaranth, Amaranthus spinosus, is also known as prickly amaranth or thorny amaranth. In some areas where it has been introduced it is regarded as a noxious weed. If you live in one of those places, then choose the closely related Prince’s feather instead, as it looks better and is unlikely to cause problems with your neighbors!

It is a native of tropical America which grows well in hot, sunny positions with some shelter. Reaching a height of around 2 feet (60cm) it is not fussy about soil type, but likes moist well drained areas best of all.

Spiny amaranth is edible, like most members of the genus, though it must be grown organically to prevent the build-up of nitrates which is typical of all of them. In addition, if you’re using it for food, it’s important to remove the spines first. See the entry for Prince’s feather for more information on toxicity.

Medicinally, spiny amaranth is used in the same ways as Prince’s feather, so please refer to that entry for information.