Kochia Greens (Bassia scoparia, formerly Kochia scoparia), also known as Burning Bush, Summer Cypress, or Mexican Fireweed, is an annual herb in the family Amaranthaceae, cultivated in parts of Asia for its tender young shoots used as a potherb. While infamous as a noxious weed in many countries, in Japan, China, and Korea, the young plants are a valued spring vegetable with a mild, slightly nutty flavor.
• In Japan, the young shoots are called "hokishi" and are a traditional spring vegetable
• The plant transforms landscapes in autumn when it turns brilliant scarlet-red — hence the name "burning bush"
• The same species is a notorious invasive weed in North American rangelands
• Young plants are tender and edible; mature plants become tough and unpalatable
• Related to quinoa and spinach in the family Amaranthaceae
• The genus was reclassified from Kochia to Bassia based on molecular phylogenetics
Bassia scoparia is native to Eurasia, likely originating in the steppes of Central Asia.
• Native to a vast region from Central Europe through Central Asia to Siberia, China, and Japan
• Now found worldwide, including North and South America, Australia, and southern Africa
• Grows in grasslands, steppes, disturbed areas, roadsides, and cultivated fields
• Found at elevations from sea level to approximately 2,500 meters
• Has been used as a vegetable in China and Japan for centuries
• First described by the German botanist Heinrich Adolf Schrader in 1809
• Introduced to the Americas as an ornamental plant in the late 19th century
• Now considered a noxious weed in many US states and Canadian provinces
• In Asia, it remains a valued spring vegetable and medicinal plant
• Native to a vast region from Central Europe through Central Asia to Siberia, China, and Japan
• Now found worldwide, including North and South America, Australia, and southern Africa
• Grows in grasslands, steppes, disturbed areas, roadsides, and cultivated fields
• Found at elevations from sea level to approximately 2,500 meters
• Has been used as a vegetable in China and Japan for centuries
• First described by the German botanist Heinrich Adolf Schrader in 1809
• Introduced to the Americas as an ornamental plant in the late 19th century
• Now considered a noxious weed in many US states and Canadian provinces
• In Asia, it remains a valued spring vegetable and medicinal plant
An erect, much-branched annual herb growing 30 to 150 cm tall, forming a bushy, cypress-like shape.
Stems:
• Erect, green to greenish-red, striped, branching freely
• Hairless or with sparse soft hairs
• Becoming woody and reddish with age
Leaves:
• Linear to narrowly lanceolate, 2 to 6 cm long and 2 to 6 mm wide
• Bright green, soft, hairless
• margins entire, with a prominent midrib beneath
• Alternate, sessile or nearly so
• Three prominent veins visible
Flowers:
• Small, inconspicuous, greenish, 2 to 3 mm
• Born singly or in pairs in the upper leaf axils
• Five-lobed calyx, no petals
• Wind-pollinated
Fruit:
• Small utricle enclosed in the persistent, sometimes winged calyx
• Contains a single, tiny, dark seed
• Seeds dispersed by wind as the plant "tumbles" (whole plant breaks off and rolls)
• The plant is a "tumbleweed" — the entire dried plant detaches and rolls in the wind, dispersing seeds
Stems:
• Erect, green to greenish-red, striped, branching freely
• Hairless or with sparse soft hairs
• Becoming woody and reddish with age
Leaves:
• Linear to narrowly lanceolate, 2 to 6 cm long and 2 to 6 mm wide
• Bright green, soft, hairless
• margins entire, with a prominent midrib beneath
• Alternate, sessile or nearly so
• Three prominent veins visible
Flowers:
• Small, inconspicuous, greenish, 2 to 3 mm
• Born singly or in pairs in the upper leaf axils
• Five-lobed calyx, no petals
• Wind-pollinated
Fruit:
• Small utricle enclosed in the persistent, sometimes winged calyx
• Contains a single, tiny, dark seed
• Seeds dispersed by wind as the plant "tumbles" (whole plant breaks off and rolls)
• The plant is a "tumbleweed" — the entire dried plant detaches and rolls in the wind, dispersing seeds
Bassia scoparia has a complex ecological identity as both a valued vegetable in Asia and a noxious invasive weed in North America.
Habitat:
• Native to Eurasia, likely originating in the steppes of Central Asia
• Now found worldwide including North and South America, Australia, and southern Africa
• Grows in grasslands, steppes, disturbed areas, roadsides, and cultivated fields
• Found at elevations from sea level to approximately 2,500 meters
• Tolerates a wide range of soil types including saline and alkaline soils
• USDA zones 3–10 (extremely wide range as an annual)
Growth Habit:
• Erect, much-branched annual herb growing 30 to 150 cm tall, forming a bushy, cypress-like shape
• Fast-growing — can reach full height in a single growing season
• Full sun species that thrives in hot, dry conditions
• The entire plant transforms from green to brilliant scarlet-red in autumn, creating dramatic landscape displays
• As a tumbleweed, the dried plant detaches at the base and rolls in the wind, dispersing thousands of seeds across the landscape
Pollination:
• Small, inconspicuous flowers are primarily wind-pollinated
• Self-pollinating capability ensures seed production even in isolated populations
• Produces enormous quantities of seed — a single plant can produce over 50,000 seeds
• Seeds remain viable in the soil seed bank for 2 to 3 years
Ecological Role:
• In native Asian steppe ecosystems, it is a normal component of annual plant communities
• Tumbleweed dispersal mechanism allows rapid colonization of disturbed habitats across vast distances
• Provides food for granivorous birds and small mammals in its native range
• In North America, it is a serious rangeland weed that outcompetes native grasses and reduces forage quality for livestock
• Young plants are palatable and nutritious, but mature plants become tough and unpalatable, and can be toxic to livestock
Invasive Status:
• Listed as a noxious weed in many US states and Canadian provinces
• Introduced to the Americas as an ornamental in the late 19th century
• The tumbleweed dispersal mechanism makes it virtually impossible to eradicate once established
Habitat:
• Native to Eurasia, likely originating in the steppes of Central Asia
• Now found worldwide including North and South America, Australia, and southern Africa
• Grows in grasslands, steppes, disturbed areas, roadsides, and cultivated fields
• Found at elevations from sea level to approximately 2,500 meters
• Tolerates a wide range of soil types including saline and alkaline soils
• USDA zones 3–10 (extremely wide range as an annual)
Growth Habit:
• Erect, much-branched annual herb growing 30 to 150 cm tall, forming a bushy, cypress-like shape
• Fast-growing — can reach full height in a single growing season
• Full sun species that thrives in hot, dry conditions
• The entire plant transforms from green to brilliant scarlet-red in autumn, creating dramatic landscape displays
• As a tumbleweed, the dried plant detaches at the base and rolls in the wind, dispersing thousands of seeds across the landscape
Pollination:
• Small, inconspicuous flowers are primarily wind-pollinated
• Self-pollinating capability ensures seed production even in isolated populations
• Produces enormous quantities of seed — a single plant can produce over 50,000 seeds
• Seeds remain viable in the soil seed bank for 2 to 3 years
Ecological Role:
• In native Asian steppe ecosystems, it is a normal component of annual plant communities
• Tumbleweed dispersal mechanism allows rapid colonization of disturbed habitats across vast distances
• Provides food for granivorous birds and small mammals in its native range
• In North America, it is a serious rangeland weed that outcompetes native grasses and reduces forage quality for livestock
• Young plants are palatable and nutritious, but mature plants become tough and unpalatable, and can be toxic to livestock
Invasive Status:
• Listed as a noxious weed in many US states and Canadian provinces
• Introduced to the Americas as an ornamental in the late 19th century
• The tumbleweed dispersal mechanism makes it virtually impossible to eradicate once established
Young kochia greens are nutritious.
• Per 100 g fresh shoots: approximately 25 to 35 kcal
• Contains vitamins A and C
• Good source of iron, calcium, and potassium
• Provides dietary fiber
• Moderate protein content
• Contains beneficial saponins (similar to quinoa)
• Low in calories and fat
• The nutritional profile is similar to other amaranth family vegetables
• Best consumed when young and tender
• Per 100 g fresh shoots: approximately 25 to 35 kcal
• Contains vitamins A and C
• Good source of iron, calcium, and potassium
• Provides dietary fiber
• Moderate protein content
• Contains beneficial saponins (similar to quinoa)
• Low in calories and fat
• The nutritional profile is similar to other amaranth family vegetables
• Best consumed when young and tender
Propagated by seed directly sown in the field.
• Sow seeds in spring after last frost
• Scatter seeds on the soil surface and press in lightly
• Germination in 7 to 14 days
• Thin seedlings to 10 to 20 cm apart
• Grows in virtually any soil type, including poor, alkaline, and saline soils
• Prefers full sun
• Drought-tolerant once established
• Minimal care required
• For vegetable production, harvest young shoots when 10 to 15 cm tall (20 to 30 days after sowing)
• Do not allow plants to mature and set seed if grown near agricultural areas
• WARNING: In many regions, this species is a regulated noxious weed — check local regulations before planting
• In areas where it is invasive, foraging wild plants is preferable to cultivation
• Sow seeds in spring after last frost
• Scatter seeds on the soil surface and press in lightly
• Germination in 7 to 14 days
• Thin seedlings to 10 to 20 cm apart
• Grows in virtually any soil type, including poor, alkaline, and saline soils
• Prefers full sun
• Drought-tolerant once established
• Minimal care required
• For vegetable production, harvest young shoots when 10 to 15 cm tall (20 to 30 days after sowing)
• Do not allow plants to mature and set seed if grown near agricultural areas
• WARNING: In many regions, this species is a regulated noxious weed — check local regulations before planting
• In areas where it is invasive, foraging wild plants is preferable to cultivation
Culinary uses:
• Young shoots are boiled or steamed as a potherb in Japan, China, and Korea
• In Japan, served as ohitashi (blanched greens with dashi dressing)
• Used in Japanese nabemono (hot pot dishes)
• In China, added to stir-fries and soups
• In Korea, used in namul (seasoned vegetable side dish)
• Can be used as a spinach substitute in most recipes
• The flavor is mild, slightly nutty, and pleasant
• Combined with sesame oil, soy sauce, and bonito flakes in Japanese preparations
• Young shoots can be lightly sautéed with garlic
• Best harvested before the plant reaches 15 cm in height
• Young shoots are boiled or steamed as a potherb in Japan, China, and Korea
• In Japan, served as ohitashi (blanched greens with dashi dressing)
• Used in Japanese nabemono (hot pot dishes)
• In China, added to stir-fries and soups
• In Korea, used in namul (seasoned vegetable side dish)
• Can be used as a spinach substitute in most recipes
• The flavor is mild, slightly nutty, and pleasant
• Combined with sesame oil, soy sauce, and bonito flakes in Japanese preparations
• Young shoots can be lightly sautéed with garlic
• Best harvested before the plant reaches 15 cm in height
재미있는 사실
Kochia is a "tumbleweed" — when it dries out in autumn, the entire plant breaks off at the base and rolls across the landscape, scattering up to 50,000 seeds as it tumbles
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