Pigweed is a multi-stemmed summer annual in the Amaranth family. Whether it is native to North Carolina or an introduced and naturalized species is debated among botanists. Considered a weed, it can be found growing in wastelands, prairies, fallow fields, farm lots, gravelly areas, and cultivated fields. It is not recommended for most gardens . Its invasiveness causes yield loss in many vegetable row crops. It grows unbranched or with minimal branches. The seeds are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. They are sometimes ground into a powder and eaten as a substitute for cereal. Sprouts can be added to salads. Although portions of this plant are edible, ingestion is detrimental to pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. This variety of pigweed is different in appearance than other common weeds in the same family. However, it can be identified by its shorter and stouter growth habit. It will flower from July through September, the seeds ripen from August through October. It is typically pollinated by the wind. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Plant damaging insects are not attracted to this plant.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Coarse
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Elliptical; Ovate; Rhomboidal
Leaf margin
Entire; Undulate
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The leaves are smaller in the upper portion of the central stem. Each leaf base is rounded, the tip can be acute, obtuse, emarginate, or rounded.. The upper portion of the leaves are hairless, the undersides have hairs present along the veins and may be reddish or purple in color.
Flower color
Green; White
Flower form
Panicle; Spike
Flower size
> 6 inches
Flower detail
Numerous, small, green monoecious flowers with prominent bracts that are longer than their tepals. Flowers clustered in spikes on panicles.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan
Fruit type
Achene; Capsule
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long
Fruit detail
One glossy black to dark reddish brown seed is revealed when the bladder-like capsule splits, circumferentially, at maturity. As many as 117,000 seeds can be produced per plant.
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The central stem is stout, rounded, veined and covered with white hairs. The stems are reddish near the base of the plant.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Central and Eastern North America
Distribution
This plant is now found nearly worldwide as an introduced plant.
Wildlife value
A food source for birds, butterflies, moths, insects and small mammals.
Attracts
Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Attracts Pollinators; Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Leaves; Seeds
Harvest time
Fall; Summer
Fruit type
Achene; Capsule
Edibility
The seeds may be eaten raw, or toasted. They can also be sprouted. Ground seeds can be used as a cereal. Young leaves may be eaten raw or cooked.
Uses (ethnobotany)
The seeds may be eaten, raw or cooked, ground into a flour, or sprouted. The young leaves are also edible.
Nitrate poisoning in horses and ruminants is characterized by a bluish cast to the mucous membranes, respiratory distress, weakness and trembling. High oxalate ingestion can result in kidney failure.
Toxic principle
Pigweeds accumulate nitrates, which can lead to nitrate poisoning in grazing animals such as horses and ruminants. Levels may b