• Purple Orach seeds – heirloom, non-GMO from Inherited Seeds
  • Purple Orach, known as Arroche in French
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Orach Purple

Orach Purple

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Purple Orach · Heirloom · Open-Pollinated · Naturally Grown · Non-GMO · Traditional to Europe

Purple Orach is an old-fashioned spinach alternative with deep, velvety purple leaves. Young leaves are mild and tender, beautiful raw in salads and easy to cook like spinach. It handles warmer weather than spinach and, left to grow, becomes a tall, dramatic plant that's as ornamental as any flower. Pick young and often for the best greens.

Why Grow Purple Orach?

  • Deep, velvety purple leaves
  • Mild, tender spinach-like flavor
  • Handles warmer weather than spinach
  • Striking ornamental edible
  • Fast baby greens in about 30 days

Plant Profile

Botanical Name: Atriplex hortensis

Common Name: Purple Orach, Mountain Spinach

Type: Heirloom, open-pollinated

Crop: Leafy green

Leaf Color: Deep purple

Plant Habit: Upright; 4–6 ft if left to grow

Season: Cool to mild season, spring to early summer and fall

Sun: Full sun to partial shade

Days to Harvest: 30–40 days for baby leaves; 50–60 for full size

Sowing Depth: 1/4–1/2 in.

Germination: 7–14 days at 50–70°F soil

Harvest: Pick young leaves and tips often

Garden Use: Garden beds, containers, ornamental borders

Culinary & Traditional Uses

Purple orach cooks like spinach. Use young leaves raw for color.

  • Purple baby greens in salads
  • Sautéed with garlic and olive oil
  • Orach saag and dal
  • Soups and stews
  • Microgreens
  • Colorful garnish

How to Grow

Orach grows best in cool to mild weather. Sow early and often.

  1. Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before your last frost date; sow again every 3 weeks through early summer.
  2. Sow seeds 1/4–1/2 in. deep in rows 12–18 in. apart.
  3. Keep soil moist; seedlings appear in 7–14 days.
  4. Thin to 4–6 in. for baby greens or 12 in. for full-size plants.
  5. Pick young leaves and tips often to keep plants bushy.
  6. Pinch flower stalks to extend the leaf harvest.
  7. Sow again in late summer for fall greens.

What NOT To Do

  • Don't let plants flower if you want tender leaves
  • Don't let soil dry out, which speeds bolting
  • Don't harvest only big leaves; young leaves are the most tender
  • Don't let it self-seed everywhere unless you want volunteers

Regional & International Names

  • English: Orach, Mountain Spinach, French Spinach
  • French: Arroche
  • German: Gartenmelde
  • Italian: Atreplice

FAQ

How is Purple Orach different from Red Fire?
Purple Orach is a deep, dark purple; Red Fire is a brighter magenta. Both taste alike.

Does it bolt like spinach?
It handles heat better than spinach but will flower in long, hot days. Pinch flower stalks to extend harvests.

Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes. Harvest young to keep plants compact.

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