Red Orache

Red Orache (Atriplex hortensis var. rubra) – Ancient Leafy Green with Striking Colour

Botanical Name: Atriplex hortensis var. rubra
Common Name: Red Orache, Mountain Spinach
Annual | Heirloom | Edible & Ornamental | Grown from Seed

Red Orache is a stunning and highly nutritious heirloom leafy green, once a staple in European and Middle Eastern gardens before spinach became widespread. Its deep red to purple leaves add vibrant colour to garden beds and salads alike. With a mild, slightly salty flavour and excellent heat tolerance, orache grows reliably from seed in Irish gardens and is ideal for both ornamental borders and productive veg plots.
? Horticultural Highlights:

Plant Type: Fast-growing, upright annual

Leaves: Deep red to purple, arrow-shaped, tender when young

Flavour: Mild and slightly mineral, similar to spinach but more heat-tolerant

Height: 60–150 cm, making it a beautiful backdrop in mixed plantings

Growth Speed: Ready to harvest from 30–50 days after sowing

Self-Seeding: Readily self-seeds in organic gardens if allowed to mature

? Growing Instructions (Seed Propagation – Suited to Irish Gardens):

Sowing Time: March to August (succession sow for continuous harvest)

Direct Sow: Sow thinly in prepared beds or borders, 1 cm deep

Spacing: Thin seedlings to 20–30 cm apart

Soil: Well-drained, moderately rich soil

Light: Full sun to partial shade

Watering: Regular watering helps prevent early bolting

Harvesting: Pick young leaves for salads or mature leaves for steaming/cooking; harvest before flowering for best texture

? Historical Background:

Orache was widely cultivated in Europe long before spinach, with culinary and medicinal references dating back to antiquity. Known for its adaptability and nutrition, orache was a common leafy green in medieval and Renaissance kitchen gardens. The red-leaved form, particularly attractive, gained popularity in 19th-century Victorian gardens for both ornamental and culinary use. Today, Red Orache is being rediscovered as a resilient, nutrient-rich crop for regenerative gardens and historical foodways.