BEACH ORACH
Also Known AsCrested Saltbush
Pigweed of the Sea [Green Deane’s article about this species refers to it as “Pigweed by the Sea.”]
Sand Atriplex
Seabeach Orach
PUERTO RICO:
Garbancillo
SYNONYM:
Atriplex pentandra
ETYMOLOGY:
Pentandra “means with five antlers, or in this case, five stamens.” [3]
Pigweed of the Sea [Green Deane’s article about this species refers to it as “Pigweed by the Sea.”]
Sand Atriplex
Seabeach Orach
PUERTO RICO:
Garbancillo
SYNONYM:
Atriplex pentandra
ETYMOLOGY:
Pentandra “means with five antlers, or in this case, five stamens.” [3]
SYNONYMS:
Atriplex arenaria
Atriplex pentandra
FORMER CLASSIFICATION:
Placed formerly in the Chenopodiaceae family.
Atriplex arenaria
Atriplex pentandra
FORMER CLASSIFICATION:
Placed formerly in the Chenopodiaceae family.
Edible Parts
Animal Interaction
This native plant within the Amaranth Family is found in just about all of Florida's coastal counties. If found in abundance, and it is usually NOT, strip off some leaves and bring them home. Boil them for ten minutes and eat as a salty potherb. This species, along with Sea Blite - Suaeda liniaris, should be tested in saltwater aquaponics systems in my opinion, in future coastal food production systems here in Florida. Green Deane tells us that the seeds are also edible, but I have yet to try them. There are two other Atriplex species, rosea and tartarica, found in Florida's wilds, both being non-native. They are only found in one single panhandle county, Escambia. Some butterflies and moths lay their eggs on the leaves of Atriplex species.
EDIBLE LEAVES: Julia Morton writes, “salty leaves eaten cooked as greens; were boiled with fat and meats by Indians of southwest.” [She sites D, H] Green Deane adds that the cooked seeds are also eaten, being “added to soups and stews or ground] and that no Atriplex species are toxic. Possibly edible raw. Deane goes on to write, “I find the leaves too bitter to eat raw.”
SEASON: All year in south Florida, or further north during warm winters. Cold spells kill the plants back.
LIVESTOCK: Green Deane writes, “meat from sheep that graze on Beach Orach has high levels of vitamin E.”
BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS: "Some species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterflies and moth) species." [7]
BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS: "Some species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (butterflies and moth) species." [7]
NATIVE TO: "Eastern and southern United States, the West Indies, Mexico, Central America (Bay Islands of Honduras) and northern South America (Venezuela)." [6] Coastal areas north to New Hampshire, west to Texas. In Florida, most coastal counties, if not all.
HABITAT: Coastal areas, sandy beaches. "Beach dunes, coastal berms, and disturbed uplands." [6]
DESCRIPTION: Annual or perennial herb. Regional Conservation lists it as an annual. Erect or sprawling.
- HEIGHT: 6-18 inches tall, often forming clumps.
- BRANCHES AND STEMS: Branches many. Stems with edges.
- LEAVES: Alternate, rarely opposite, “oblong, oval, or slender,” [1] petioles lacking or short, silvery beneath.
- FLOWERS: In dense inflorescences, greenish-yellow.
RELATED SPECIES: Two other Atriplex species grow wild in Florida. They are rare non-natives, found only in the one westernmost county of the panhandle. They are A. rosea and A. tartarica.
CULTURE:
- SOIL: Moist, well drained. [7]
- PESTS AND DISEASES: Mold and aphids. [7]
- PROPAGATION: "Root softwood cuttings in summer." [7]
- HEIGHT: 6-18 inches tall, often forming clumps.
- BRANCHES AND STEMS: Branches many. Stems with edges.
- LEAVES: Alternate, rarely opposite, “oblong, oval, or slender,” [1] petioles lacking or short, silvery beneath.
- FLOWERS: In dense inflorescences, greenish-yellow.
RELATED SPECIES: Two other Atriplex species grow wild in Florida. They are rare non-natives, found only in the one westernmost county of the panhandle. They are A. rosea and A. tartarica.
CULTURE:
- SOIL: Moist, well drained. [7]
- PESTS AND DISEASES: Mold and aphids. [7]
- PROPAGATION: "Root softwood cuttings in summer." [7]
More Details
Flower Color
Green
Flowering Type
Hermaphroditic
Habitat
Coastal
Native?
Native
Plant Form
Woody Evergreen Perennial Herb
Height
2 feet
Hardiness Zone
7a to 11b
Root Hardiness
0°F
Light
Part Sun Full Sun
Soil
Sandy Well-Drained
Tolerances
Salt Tolerant
Watering
Moist
When to Harvest
Green
Flowering Type
Hermaphroditic
Habitat
Coastal
Native?
Native
Plant Form
Woody Evergreen Perennial Herb
Height
2 feet
Hardiness Zone
7a to 11b
Root Hardiness
0°F
Light
Part Sun Full Sun
Soil
Sandy Well-Drained
Tolerances
Salt Tolerant
Watering
Moist
When to Harvest
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Sources for acquiring
Regional Conservation tell us that it is not cultivated. Perhaps one of us should attempt to do so.
References
[1] Wild Plants for Survival in South Florida, by Julia Morton
[2] Martin County NatureWatch blog [photo: that I checked]
[3] eattheweeds.com
[4] Florida Wildflowers, Walter Taylor [photo that I checked]
[5] Dennis Girard [photos that I checked]
[6] Regional Conservation
[7] thegardengeeks.com
[8] Plants of Puerto Rico
[9] botanicajardines.com
[2] Martin County NatureWatch blog [photo: that I checked]
[3] eattheweeds.com
[4] Florida Wildflowers, Walter Taylor [photo that I checked]
[5] Dennis Girard [photos that I checked]
[6] Regional Conservation
[7] thegardengeeks.com
[8] Plants of Puerto Rico
[9] botanicajardines.com
Last Updated: October 28, 2017