Chenopodium giganteum, also known as tree spinach, is an annual, upright many-branched shrub with a stem diameter of up to 5 cm at the base, that can grow to a height of up to 3 m.[2] The younger leaves of Chenopodium giganteum are hairy with a magenta colour and the older become green.

Many species of this genus have a long history of domestications as grain, vegetable or forage crops.

[10] The young shoots and leaves of Chenopodium giganteum can be eaten cooked like spinach, another member of the Amaranthaceae.

[3][13] Due to the partially pink coloured leaves, Chenopodium giganteum also has an ornamental value.

[13] As common for species of the family Amaranthaceae, the plants contain some amounts of saponins and oxalic acid,[3][14][15][16] which in high concentrations can have negative health impacts on humans (e.g. Hemolysis or Kidney stone disease).