Chenopodium bonus-henricus
good King Henry
An edible perennial with tiny yellowy green flowers and bright mid-green arrow-shaped leaves. Can be eaten raw or cooked and tasting similar to spinach. Keep picking for tasty and tender leaves, and to avoid the plant running to seed too soon
Other common names
all goodblite
see moreEnglish mercury
false mercury
fat-hen
flowering dock
friar's pot herb
good Henry
goosefoot
Lincolnshire asparagus
mark weed
markery
mercury
mercury goosefoot
perennial goosefoot
Roman plant
shoemaker's heels
wild mercury
wild spinach
Synonyms
Chenopodium bonus-henricus
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drained, Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Yellow | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full shade
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H5Botanical details
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- Yes
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright, Bushy
- Genus
A genus of flowering annual or perennial herbs found in Europe, Asia, North Africa, The Americas and Australia, with green to purple triangle-shaped foliage and spikes of bright red strawberry-like fruits in summer
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- C & S Europe (Mts)
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in any well-drained fertile soil, in a sunny or semi-shaded position. In the ideal growing conditions they can grow quite rapidly and may require staking if they become too tall
Propagation
Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Patio and container plants
- Cottage and informal garden
- Low Maintenance
Pruning
Harvest the leaves as required, to keep the plant compact and cropping well. Only pick lightly in the first year after planting
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.