Species Russian Pigweed
green flowers, leaves and green stems

Russian Pigweed

Axyris amaranthoides

Russian Pigweed is an annual flowering plant in the Amaranthaceae family that is native to Eurasia. It is a highly invasive weed, but is also found cultivated in gardens. Growing up to 3 feet tall, its stems are upright, branching, and covered in a white downy hair. Its leaves are oval to spatulate-shaped and deep green in color with a white to grayish waxy bloom on the surface. Its tiny yellow flowers grow in leafy panicles at the top of the stems and produce small, dark, round fruits. Russian Pigweed can be found in fields, roadsides, gardens, and waste areas in the USA, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Cutting,Division,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

High

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Water Russian Pigweed deeply but infrequently. Its thick taproot allows it to survive periods of drought, so water only when the top 2 inches of soil are dry. For established Russian Pigweed, water thoroughly once a week. Once the taproot establishes, you can reduce the frequency of watering to once every 2 weeks. Make sure the soil never gets soggy or waterlogged as this oversaturation of water will cause the roots of the plant to rot and eventually kill the plant.

sunlight

Russian Pigweed requires full sun to partial shade for its growth and development. It prefers sunlight for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours per day. This plant species will thrive in hot and dry conditions, and is very drought tolerant. It prefers soil that is well-drained and not overly moist. The optimal time for Russian Pigweed to receive sunlight is during the morning – ideally between 8am and 12pm.

pruning

Russian pigweed should be pruned every spring, before it begins blooming. The plant should be cut back to 1-third of its original height. If the plant is in an area with cooler climates, prune it again in late summer. This will encourage new growth and blooms. Prune away any dead or damaged parts of the plant, as well as any diseased foliage. If your Russian pigweed is growing too large, cut it back to the ground or transplant it.