Atriplex hortensis
Garden orach, Garden Orach
(c) Tatyana Sova, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Chenopodiaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Atriplex hortensis (Garden orach) is a non-native California herb in the Chenopodiaceae family, recognized by very tall annual, large green leaves, distinctive large net-veined bracts.
Garden orach is a naturalized annual found in coastal and southern California regions including Northern Coast, San Francisco Bay, Southern California, and the Modoc Plateau in open, disturbed places at elevations below 1,300 meters. Flowering from July to November, this plant produces green flowers with distinctive elliptic to round bracts that develop during fruit formation. Growing 50 to 180 centimeters tall with an erect main stem and ascending branches, it has a striate stem that is sparsely scaly. Its alternate leaves vary from 12 to 150 millimeters long, ranging from ovate to deltate in shape, with edges that can be entire, wavy, or slightly toothed. The plant produces two distinct types of seeds: smaller black horizontal seeds and larger brown vertical seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; very tall annual, large green leaves, distinctive large net-veined bracts
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, disturbed places
Elevation: < 1300 m
Outside California: to eastern North America, native to Eurasia
Bloom period
Atriplex hortensis blooms Jul-Nov.
How to tell it apart
vs Artemisia: Atriplex leaves have bead-like scales; Artemisia leaves are finely divided and aromatic when crushed.; vs Ambrosia: Atriplex has simple scaly leaves; Ambrosia has deeply lobed or divided leaves with coarse hairs.; vs Extriplex: Atriplex has 3-5 calyx lobes on male flowers and two seed colors; Extriplex has exactly 4 lobes and uniform dark seeds.; vs Chenopodium: Atriplex has bead-like bladder hairs and paired fruit bracts; Chenopodium has mealy powder and calyx-enclosed fruits.; vs Eriogonum: Atriplex has scaly leaves and paired fruit bracts; Eriogonum has smooth leaves and papery flower tubes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Atriplex hortensis native to California?
No. Atriplex hortensis is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Atriplex hortensis bloom?
Atriplex hortensis blooms Jul-Nov.
What plant family does Atriplex hortensis belong to?
Atriplex hortensis is in the Chenopodiaceae family, genus Atriplex.
What habitat does Atriplex hortensis grow in?
Atriplex hortensis grows in Open, disturbed places.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.