Chenopodium quinoa

RHS Plant Profile

quinoa

Other common names

grain of the Incas, petty rice of Peru, quinua, purple goosefoot

Synonyms

Chenopodium atriplicis
Chenopodium purpurascens

Herbs - Culinary Annual Biennial

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An upright, herbaceous annual to 2m tall with toothed, lanceolate to triangular green leaves that may change to shades of red and purple with age. Dense clusters of small greenish flowers are followed by edible seeds to 2mm in diameter

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Amaranthaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Chenopodium can be annuals or perennials, with often mealy stems and foliage, simple or lobed leaves and minute flowers in termianl or axillary clusters, in a few species followed by colourful fruits
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a moist but well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free