Amaranthus sp.
Amaranth, pigweed, Pigweed
Family: Amaranthaceae · Type: Perennial · Variable; species dependent
Amaranthus sp. (Amaranth) is a non-native California perennial in the Amaranthaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Celosia: Amaranthus has bristly flower spikes; Celosia has showy velvety flower plumes or crested combs.; vs Rumex: Amaranthus has dense bristly flower clusters; Rumex has flowers in whorls along stems with papery wings on fruits.; vs Salsola: Amaranthus has soft oval leaves and clustered flowers; Salsola has spine-tipped leaves and papery winged fruits.; vs Euphorbia: Amaranthus lacks milky sap and has separate male/female flowers; Euphorbia has milky sap and cup-like flower clusters.; vs Chenopodium: Amaranthus has bristly flower clusters; Chenopodium has mealy-coated leaves and flowers in loose balls.
Frequently asked questions
Is Amaranthus sp. native to California?
No. Amaranthus sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Amaranthus sp. belong to?
Amaranthus sp. is in the Amaranthaceae family, genus Amaranthus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.