Blitum virgatum
Leafy blite
(c) Jeremy Gilmore, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Amaranthaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Blitum virgatum (Leafy blite) is a non-native California herb in the Amaranthaceae family, recognized by leafy bracts throughout inflorescence, fruits mature base to top, non-native from Europe.
Leafy blite is a non-native annual found in the Cascade Range High, Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau, and western Mojave Desert bioregions, growing in open, gravelly or sandy soils and disturbed ground below 1,800 meters. Flowering from June to August, it reaches 5 to 60 centimeters tall with lanceolate to narrowly triangular, deeply toothed leaves and leafy-bracted spikes bearing small fruits that mature from the base to the tip of the plant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 26 sympatric species - leafy bracts throughout inflorescence, fruits mature base to top, non-native from Europe
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open, gravelly or sandy soils, disturbed ground
Elevation: < 1800 m
Outside California: to western Canada, northeastern United States; native to Africa, Asia, Europe
Bloom period
Blitum virgatum blooms Jun--Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Chenopodiastrum: Chenopodium has mealy coating; Chenopodiastrum is smooth to slightly hairy without mealy texture.; vs Atriplex: Chenopodium has perfect flowers; Atriplex has separate male/female flowers with paired bracts on fruits.; vs Blitum: Chenopodium has dry fruits; Blitum has fleshy, berry-like fruiting calyxes.; vs Amaranthus: Chenopodium has mealy coating; Amaranthus is smooth with dense bristly flower spikes.; vs Rumex: Chenopodium has 5-parted flowers in clusters; Rumex has 6-parted flowers in whorls.
Frequently asked questions
Is Blitum virgatum native to California?
No. Blitum virgatum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Blitum virgatum bloom?
Blitum virgatum blooms Jun--Aug.
What plant family does Blitum virgatum belong to?
Blitum virgatum is in the Amaranthaceae family, genus Blitum.
What habitat does Blitum virgatum grow in?
Blitum virgatum grows in Open, gravelly or sandy soils, disturbed ground.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-08
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.