Kochia scoparia is an annual, C4 herb (Jacobs 2001), erect, to 1.5 m tall, pyramidal, bushy-branched, densely leafy, usually densely, finely hairy above, stems often reddish.
Leaves alternate, no stalk, blade lance-shaped, to linear, to 5 cm long, becoming much shorter upwards and in flowering stalks, becoming bright red in Autumn.
Flowers green, inconspicuous, to 0.3 cm, no petals, sepals 5, petal-like (winged); star-shaped; inflorescence of finely hairy spikes covered with leafy bracts to 1 cm long; blooming and fruiting Aug.-Oct.
Fruit dry, winged (much like Cycloloma).
Wetland status: UPL.
Frequency in NYC: Infrequent.
Habitat: Open soil, full sun. Escaped from cultivation.
Origin: Eurasia.
Notes: Soil pH 4-8 (USDA, NRCS. 2004).