Scientific Name: Atriplex hortensis

Common Names: Purple Orach, Mountain Spinach, Red Orach, Garden Orache, French Spinach, Orache, Arrach, Arroche, Butter Leaves

Family: Amaranthaceae (Spinach, Beet & Amaranth)

Etymology

Atriplex: Ancient Name; Latin
hortensis: Cultivated

Origin

Native to parts of Europe and Asia, Orach has a long history being cultivated as a garden vegetable in the Mediterranean since around 2000 BC.

Description

Purple Orach is today a lesser known annual vegetable from the same family as Spinach, it seems to have fallen out of fashion as a vegetable in the West sometime during the early 20th century.  The broad, purple leaves have a similar flavour and texture as Spinach but the plants have a much greater ability to cope with high temperatures which would otherwise cause regular Spinach to wilt and die.  Can reach 80cm tall under ideal conditions.  Orach 'Purple' is also sometimes called Orach 'Purple Passion'.

Uses

The purple leaves can be used raw to add colour to salads.  Alternative they can be cooked briefly and used as a Spinach substitute, although they'll loose their vibrant purple colour and turn green once cooked.

Germination

Sow seed 5mm deep, spacing plants 40cm apart.  Sow from February to March or from September to October.

Cultivation

Prefer well drained soil.  Prefers a full sun position.  Suitable for coastal gardens.  Tolerant of wind and salt-spray.  Takes about 11 weeks from sowing to main harvest.  Can harvest once the plant is 25cm tall but avoid picking too many leaves.  Pick leaves as they are needed and plants will continue to grow.  Older leaves that are not picked will become tough.  Will self-sow once a patch is established.