Amaranthus viridis
Slender amaranth
(c) Dan Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Dan Johnson · licence
Family: Amaranthaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Amaranthus viridis (Slender amaranth) is a non-native California herb in the Amaranthaceae family, recognized by . Key features: low elevation urban habitat, flexible nodding spikes, dotted dull seeds, indehiscent fruit.
Slender amaranth is a naturalized annual found in southern California coastal areas in disturbed urban habitats at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from July to October, this plant produces small green flowers in flexible, nodding clusters that are axillary and terminal. Growing with erect green stems 20 to 100 centimeters tall that are simple or many-branched, it develops a distinctive branching structure. Its leaves are ovate to rhombic-ovate, 20 to 80 millimeters long with wedge-shaped bases and entire or slightly notched margins. The fruit is a small spherical seed capsule 1.2 to 1.5 millimeters wide, turning from green to brown as it matures.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 14 sympatric species. Key features: low elevation urban habitat, flexible nodding spikes, dotted dull seeds, indehiscent fruit
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed urban areas
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: eastern United States, +- cosmopolitan, tropics. native
Bloom period
Amaranthus viridis blooms Jul-Oct.
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 viridis native to California?
No. Amaranthus viridis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Amaranthus viridis bloom?
Amaranthus viridis blooms Jul-Oct.
What plant family does Amaranthus viridis belong to?
Amaranthus viridis is in the Amaranthaceae family, genus Amaranthus.
What habitat does Amaranthus viridis grow in?
Amaranthus viridis grows in Disturbed urban areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Amaranthus watsonii — Watson's amaranth
- Amaranthus albus — Tumbleweed
- Amaranthus arenicola — Sand amaranth
- Amaranthus blitoides — Procumbent pigweed
- Amaranthus blitum subsp. emarginatus
- Amaranthus californicus — Californian amaranth
- Blitum californicum — California blite
- Blitum capitatum — Strawberry-blite
- Blitum hastatum — Over's blite
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.