Orache, also called mountain spinach, comes in red and green forms that will readily cross with each other if grown together and allowed to flower -- worth knowing if you value keeping the striking red colour true.
New to terms like isolation distance or outcrossing? See the Seed-Saving Glossary.
Seed-Saving Difficulty
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Moderate Difficulty
Moderate crossing risk.
How It's Pollinated
Wind-pollinated
(Moderate crossing risk)
Scientific name: Atriplex hortensis
Domestic Crops It Can Cross With
- Red and green orache varieties will cross with each other
Wild Relatives & Feral Species
- Wild Atriplex (saltbush) relatives exist in some coastal and dry regions and can cross where present
Separation Distances Required
Minimum: 200m between varieties
Recommended: 400m for reliable purity
Strict: Bag flower spikes for guaranteed purity
Seed-Saving Strategies
- Allow seed clusters to dry brown along the flowering stem
- Strip seed by hand once dry
- Store dry -- viable 4-5 years