Scientific Name: Beta vulgaris (Cicla Group)
Common Name: Swiss chard
Family Name: Amaranthaceae
Origin: Europe
Hardiness Zone: Zone 6: (-23 to -18 °C)
Plant Type: Biennial
Mature Size: 0.4 - 0.7m x 0.3 - 0.6m (height x width)
Habit: Upright
Form: Pyramidal - narrowly
Texture: Very coarse
Landscape Uses: Summer interest, Urban agriculture
Exposure: Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil or Media: Alkaline, Well-drained
Leaves: Simple, Alternate, Basal, Soft flexible, Heavily veined, Pinnate venation, Lustrous, Elliptic, Oblong, Ovate, Crenate
Flowers: Flowers clustered, Green, Apr-May
Fruit: Multiple fruit, Brown, Jun
Key ID Features:
Leaves basal and then alternate on the flowering stalk the second year (biennial), most blades ovate to oblong, 10-45cm long x 5-20cm wide, ruffled, puckered, thick midribs and petioles which can be red-pink-orange-yellow-green-white as are the stems.