Seed leaves are long and wide. Seedlings are very smooth and hairless. Leaves may have a white or red V-shaped mark during early stages of development.
Palmer amaranth is an extremely vigorous, tall plant.
Stems and leaves vary from green to pink. The leaves are diamond-shaped and have long leaf stalks. Leaf tips have a fine, short hair extending from the midrib beyond the leaf blade. Stems and leaves are hairless and smooth. The seedhead is very long, thick, and extremely prickly due to the very long bracts.