The leaves of amaranth are oval or lanceolate and come in many colors.

Amaranth, also known as Yan Lai Hong, Lao Lai Shao, Lao Lai Shao, and Tricolor Amaranth, belongs to the Amaranthaceae and Amaranthus genus. In some places, it is also called red mushroom tiger, cloud coriander, cloud sky vegetable, corn, Hancai, Renqing, etc. Hubei and Anhui Guangde are known as Chinese delicacies. According to color, they can be divided into green amaranth, red amaranth and colored amaranth.

Amaranth leaves are oval or lanceolate and come in many colors, mainly green, red, purple, yellow, or other colors with green in between. The top is obtuse, the base is broadly wedge-shaped, the entire edge is hairless, and the petiole is green or red. Amaranth has thick stems with many branches and hairs that fall off in old age. Moreover, amaranth has a well-developed root system and is planted deeply. Flower clusters are axillary, reaching to the lower leaves, or with terminal flower clusters at the same time, forming pendulous spikes.

Types of amaranth

1. Green amaranth

The leaves, petioles and stems are all green, with flat leaves, with an average leaf length of 10 cm and a width of 5- 6 cm, plant height is about 30 cm. The variety has a hard texture and strong heat resistance, and is suitable for cultivation in spring and autumn. During the frost-free period across the country, it can be sown in stages and harvested successively for sale. Plants sown in spring will bolt and bloom later, and are of tender quality. Plants sown in summer and autumn will bolt and bloom more easily, and their quality will be coarse and old. Sowing in the open fields in North China is from late April to early September, and harvested from late May to early October. The growth period is 30-60 days.

2. Red amaranth

The leaves, petioles and stems are purple-red. The average leaves are 15 cm long, 5 cm wide, oval, slightly wrinkled on the leaf surface, and thick in the mesophyll. The plant height is less than 30 cm. The taste is softer than green amaranth when eaten, the quality is tender and delicious, and the heat resistance is moderate. The growing period is 30-40 days, suitable for spring cultivation.

3. Colorful Amaranth

The leaves have green edges and purple-red near the veins. The leaves are oval, 10-12 cm long, 4-5 cm wide, and slightly wrinkled. Plant height is about 30 cm. Soft texture and strong heat resistance. precocious. Suitable for early spring cultivation, harvest 50 days after sowing in spring and 30 days after sowing in summer.