GOOSEFOOT 'Purple'

Young leaves are a striking iridescent magenta-red with crystalline red powder. Long panicles of flowers. The stem is striped red and is very strong for its light weight due to a spiral twist. Large tall annual can grow to 6 - 8 feet, leading to it sometimes being called "tree spinach", though it's not related to our Chaya tree spinach, but instead closer to quinoa or lamb's quarters. Birds are fond of the seeds, and the leaves have been used as a spinach in the Mediterranean, by South African Bantu, and here in the U.S. Tender young leaves are good in salads or cooked and eaten like spinach, and seeds can be prepared like rice or quinoa, or ground into flour. Likes partial shade, though it can tolerate lower water and soil quality than many leaf veggies. Can self-seed and spread, and use caution with large quantities of raw leaves, which contain some oxalic acid.