Fire bush, Tumbleweed
Bassia scoparia

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

An annual herb. It grows 50-100 cm high and spreads 20-150 cm wide. The leaves are narrow and flat. They are normally mid green but turn purple-red in late summer. The flowers are small. They are in clusters and the same colour as the leaves. Plants break off and roll like a tumble weed.

There are about (10) 30 Kochia species. These may now be Bassia. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate climate plant. It needs full sun and a well drained soil. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. In Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Caucasus, Central Asia, Chile, China, East Africa, Europe (country/location of origin), Greece, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Manchuria, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mongolia, Mozambique, Myanmar, North Africa, North America, Pakistan, Russia, SE Asia, Siberia, Slovenia, South America, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Young plants are edible as a vegetable or potherb. They are also mixed with flour, steamed and seasoned and eaten in summer. They are also fried.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. It is a main wild vegetable in the Hexi corridor in the QiLian Mountains in China.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, shoots, vegetable, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Alfalfa criolla, Barriola, Belvedere, Broom plant, Di fu, Dudusaozhou, Fireball, Fireweed, Kochia, Morenita, Navadni metlovec, Qiansaizhu, Sao zhou cai, Sugua nogo, Summer cypres, Summer cypress, Ta-byat-se, Tlesaoba, Yuyi volador

Synonyms

Atriplex scoparia (L.) Crantz; Bassia sieversiana (Pall.) W. A. Weber; Bushiola scoparia (L.) Nieuwl.; Chenopodium scoparia L.; Kochia densiflora Turcz. ex Aellen; Kochia parodi Aellen; Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.; Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. var. alata Blom.; Kochea tricophylla; Salsola scoparia (L.) M. Bieb.; and others