Flower Library
Orache
Atriplex · Amaranthaceae
Orache is an insider tip among structural stems: tall shoots with dark red foliage that set strings of bead-like seed heads in late summer. An old cottage garden vegetable returned to floristry, it gives bouquets depth, height and a touch of wilderness. When it shows up at the Veiling Rhein-Maas we buy — the lots are small and go fast.
- Season
- July – August – September
- Vase life
- 6–10 days
- Latin name
- Atriplex
- Colors
- Dark red (foliage), Purple, Bordeaux, Green
Of interest to floristry is above all red orache, Atriplex hortensis var. rubra, with deep purple-red foliage and matching seed heads. In the field the plant reaches a good two metres and supplies long, branching stems — from tender red leaf shoots in July to fruiting stems densely set with flat little seed discs in September.
Precisely these two stages make it so versatile: the young red foliage works like a dark foliage base and grounds bordeaux palettes richly. The ripe seed heads, on the other hand, look like threaded sequins and bring the same trickling abundance to autumn bouquets as amaranthus — only more upright and graphic.
Orache is a darling of the slow flower movement because it grows undemandingly, bulks up quickly and needs no importing. Accordingly you often find it in regionally grown summer and autumn work, combined with dahlias, sunflowers, grasses and chrysanthemums.
On the craft side: the soft foliage wilts faster than the seed heads. For lasting arrangements we prefer stems at the seed stage and remove part of the foliage — then orache stands a good week or more. In too warm a spot, young shoots flag within days.
And because it comes up again and again: yes, this is the same herb that once landed on plates as a spinach substitute. The young leaves are edible, making orache the safest possible choice for kitchen and vegetable-style bouquets — though larger raw quantities contain oxalic acid and saponins, just like spinach.
Is Orache toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Orache is a traditional leaf vegetable and considered harmless to cats, dogs and children. As with spinach, very large raw quantities can upset the stomach due to oxalic acid and saponins.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Recut the stems at an angle and stand them deep in water straight away.
- 02Remove part of the soft foliage — it wilts before the seed heads do.
- 03Change the water every two days, recutting the stems as you go.
- 04Keep cool; warmth makes young shoots flag quickly.
- 05Seed heads can shed a little — avoid letting them hang over delicate surfaces.
- 06Ripe fruiting stems dry well hung upside down and can be reused.
Frequently asked
- Is orache toxic to cats or dogs?
- No, orache is an old leaf vegetable and considered harmless to cats, dogs and children. Like spinach it contains oxalic acid and saponins, so animals should not eat large raw amounts — but a bouquet in the room is entirely uncritical.
- Can you really eat orache?
- Yes — the young leaves were cooked like spinach for centuries, and the red form even adds pretty colour. For eating, though, use untreated plants from the garden, not cut stems from the flower trade, as those are not produced as food.
- When is orache available as cut material?
- The season runs roughly from July to September. Early on you get leafy shoots, from August onwards increasingly the decorative seed heads. As orache mostly comes from smaller field growers, supply is weather-dependent and limited.
- How long does orache last in the vase?
- Stems at the seed stage last six to ten days, young leafy shoots more like four to six. Kept cool with fresh water you get the maximum out of them; the ripe seed heads can be dried afterwards.