Botanical profile

Orach 'Ruby Red'

Latin name
Atriplex hortensis 'Ruby Red'
Common name
Red orache
Type
Annual leafy vegetable
Family
Amaranthaceae

'Ruby Red' orach is a remarkable edible and ornamental plant, known for its intense purplish-red foliage, which brings spectacular color to vegetable gardens, edible containers, and ornamental flowerbeds. Its tender young leaves can be harvested as a leafy vegetable and used fresh in salads or cooked like spinach. With its rapid growth, upright habit, and vibrant hue, it allows for the creation of a garden that is both delicious, colorful, and very original.

Easy to grow, 'Ruby Red' orach prefers a sunny to slightly partially shaded location, in fertile, light, and well-drained soil. It appreciates regular watering to produce more tender and flavorful foliage, especially during hot periods. Its cultivation is ideal in vegetable gardens, in rows, in edible beds, or in large containers, where it can be harvested as needed. Frequent harvesting of young leaves encourages continuous production and helps maintain a more compact plant.

Appreciated as much for its culinary value as for its decorative effect, 'Ruby Red' orach is perfect for adding diversity to herb gardens, urban vegetable gardens, and edible landscapes. Its red foliage contrasts beautifully with green lettuces, Swiss chard, basils, herbs, and edible flowers. It is an excellent plant to integrate into a productive and aesthetic garden, particularly for those looking for an original, colorful, and easy-to-harvest leafy vegetable.

Care guide

Care level
Easy

Choosing this plant

Main benefit
Edible and highly decorative purplish-red foliage
Kitchen garden, edible garden, ornamental bed, container gardening
Container growing
Container culture possible in a deep pot
Seasonal care
Harvest young leaves regularly; pinch off flower stalks to prolong production
Growing conditions

Light, soil, water and hardiness

Hardiness zone
Not hardy
Exposure
Full sun
Watering
Regular; keep the soil moist for tender leaves
Humidity
Average moisture; prefers cool soil
Fertilization
Compost at sowing; light fertilization during cultivation
Soil type
Fertile, cool, well-drained soil
Soil pH
Neutral to slightly alkaline
Minimum temperature
32 °F
Propagation method
No-till drilling
Plant appearance

Blooming, foliage and shape

Blooming period
Summer
Flower color
Reddish-green
Fruiting
Seeds at the end of the season
Foliage color
Purple red
Foliage type
Obsolete
Shape
Upright and leafy habit
Garden structure

Size and growth

Height
60 to 120 cm (24 to 48 inches)
Width
45 to 60 cm (18 to 24 inches)
Growth rate
Rapid growth
Vegetable garden and yield

Companion planting, spacing and harvest

Companion plants
Lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard, radishes
Plants to avoid
Spinach (direct competitor), beetroot
Spacing
30 to 45 cm (12 to 18 inches)
Harvest period
Young leaves from spring to summer
Not recommended for pets
Not recommended for pets

Pets

The availability of our plants varies depending on arrivals, seasons, nursery production and supplier availability. Some varieties may be offered for a limited time only, depending on their natural cycle or current stock. These plant profiles are designed to guide and inspire you when choosing plants for the garden, landscaping projects, containers or long-lasting outdoor arrangements.