My grandson sent this photo to me to identify. It is growing at the base of a live oak tree in SW Austin, Texas. Any help would be appreciated. I don't think it's native to this area, as I cannot find it in area nurseries or books.
I looked up Chenopodium sp. or goosefoot, and it doesn't look at all like this plant. This plant looks a lot like the variegated potato vine, but in a bush variation. But I don't think there's such a thing.
My first thought was Chenopodium as well. I have seen that purple/pink color on new growth of Chenopodium album (and other species) and the leaf shape can be varied.
Thank you, saltcedar. That's it. Seems the chemo podium family is quite varied. My grandson will be pleased. Do you know much about this plant. We get to over 100 degrees here foray days during June-Sept. can it take the heat? Maybe in the shade in Austin? Guessing it's not evergreen.
With adequate water and afternoon shade it should do OK. They may go to seed and die, then new seedlings would appear with the Fall rains.
Your Chenopodium is annual and as such will survive only one growing season. It will grow fast and soon will start blooming and developing seeds. In my garden, if allowed to live long enough, Chenopodium will reach up to 5-6 feet. Every now and then I allow one plant to do so to get fresh supply of seeds.
Yes: when looking at pictures of plants on the internet you can't just look at a few and think you have seen the whole range, especially when looking at an entire genus.
