SafePlants

Powell's Amaranth (Amaranthus powellii)

Amaranthus powellii, commonly known as Powell's amaranth or green amaranth, is an annual plant belonging to the Amaranthaceae family.

Considerations for Pets

• This plant is commonly found in gardens and can grow to 1.8m (6ft).

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Amaranthus powellii S. Watson
• Family: Amaranthaceae (Amaranth family)
• Synonyms:
  • Amaranthus bracteosus Uline & W. L. Bray
  • Amaranthus retroflexus Linnaeus var. powellii (S. Watson) B.
  • Amaranthus viscidulus
  • Amaranthus hybridus ssp. powellii
• Subspecies: Amaranthus powellii S. Watson ssp. bouchonii (Thell.) Costea & Carretero and Amaranthus powellii S. Watson subsp. powellii

Common Names

• Powell's amaranth
• Green amaranth
• Powell's smooth amaranth
• Amaranthus Pigweed (sometimes used in Tasmania)
• Prince of Wales Feather (sometimes used in Tasmania and WA)

Distribution and Habitat

• Native to southwestern North America, it has expanded its range throughout North and South America.
• Can be found in parking lots.

Ecological Role

• Considered a serious cropland weed.

Morphological Characteristics

• An annual plant that can grow up to 1.8 meters tall.
• Leaves are shiny, entire, and lack hairs.
• Lower stem characteristics are particularly noticeable in seedlings.
• Taprooted, several-stemmed at the base, much-branched, decumbent, spreading.
• Frost tender.
• The flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes are found on the same plant).

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Flowering in mass can cause severe allergies.
• Palmer amaranth, redroot pigweed, and smooth pigweed are difficult to distinguish from Powell's amaranth.

Further Information

• Brooklyn Botanic Garden New York Metropolitan Flora Project (NYMF)
• Dave's Garden (a community for sharing gardening tips and ideas)