Plants

slender amaranth

Amaranthus viridis

Family: Amaranthaceae · Genus: Amaranthus

green amaranth, tropical green amaranth, callaloo

Placenta I Low Mulch biomass

slender amaranth — Tauʻolunga · CC BY-SA · Wikimedia Commons

An erect annual herb in the Amaranthaceae, widely distributed in the American tropics and cosmopolitan as a volunteer. It grows about 0.3–0.8 m tall, with ovate long-petioled leaves and terminal panicles of small green flowers. Young leaves and shoots are eaten as a cooked leafy vegetable (PANC), rich in protein, iron and calcium; it is distinct from the grain amaranths.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Amaranthus gracilis Desf., Albersia viridis (L.) Kunth

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Placenta I
Ecological role: Pioneer
Primary stratum: Low
Strata: Low, Ground cover
Biomass class: Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Waterlogging tolerance: Low
Soil pH range: 5.5–7.5
Preferred soil texture: Loamy, Sandy
Hardiness zones: 9–12
Frost tolerance: 0.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height: 0.3–0.9 m
Recommended spacing: 0.2–0.4 m
Root system: Taproot
Root depth: Shallow
Growth rate: Very fast
Lifespan: 1 year
Time to first harvest: 2 months
Productive lifespan: 1 year

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Native
Cerrado Native
Amazon Native

Köppen classes

Tropical rainforest (Af) Suitable
Tropical monsoon (Am) Suitable
Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable
Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Slender amaranth takes the Low stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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✂️ Management & Pruning

Cut-and-come-again harvest: cut the apex and young shoots while leaving some basal leaves, and the plant resprouts laterally for further pickings of tender leaf. Remove the flowering panicles to delay bolting and prolong the leafy phase; it is annual.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: December, January, February, March, April

Fruiting months: January, February, March, April, May

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of slender amaranth?

The first harvest of slender amaranth comes around 2 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for slender amaranth?

The recommended spacing for slender amaranth is 0.2–0.4 m.

How tall does slender amaranth grow?

At maturity, slender amaranth reaches 0.3–0.9 m tall.

When does slender amaranth fruit?

Fruiting of slender amaranth occurs in January, February, March, April, May.

When does slender amaranth flower?

Flowering of slender amaranth occurs in December, January, February, March, April.

What stage and stratum does slender amaranth occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, slender amaranth belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the low stratum.

Functions

Medicinal Ground cover Fodder Dynamic accumulator

Propagation

Seed

Citations

Wikipedia (Amaranthus viridis) (description, height_max_m, propagation, functions)
Wikidata (external_ids, scientific_name)
World Flora Online (scientific_name, family, synonyms)
Kinupp & Lorenzi, Plantas Alimentícias Não Convencionais (PANC) no Brasil (pruning_notes, lifespan_years_min, lifespan_years_max, productive_lifespan_years)