Chenopodium bonus-henricus L.

Perennial herb, non-aromatic, with stout creeping rootstock, sometimes forming clumps, farinose, at least when young, eglandular. Stems erect, to c. 40 cm tall, puberulent. Petioles sparsely puberulent, on lower lvs to c. 15 cm long, on upper lvs mostly 0.5-6 cm long; lamina of basal and lower cauline lvs 4-12 × 3.5-11 cm, broad-triangular, or triangular-hastate, entire but sinuate, often with a basal lobe on either side, deep green, farinose at first, puberulent on midrib and main veins beneath; base cuneate, truncate or broadly and shallowly cordate; apex acute to acuminate; upper cauline lvs rhombic; lvs at base of infl. smaller. Infls mostly terminal, 8-15 cm long, dense, narrow-pyramidal or cylindric, farinose; glomerules many-flowered, discrete below. Perianth segments united at base, 0.7-1 mm long, ± valvate, not keeled but with dark green central band outside. Fr. exserted from perianth segments; pericarp fairly easily removed. Seed vertical, 1.2-2 mm diam., subglobose to reniform; margin obtuse; testa dark brown, rather rough, dull.

It is a temperate plant. It will grow on a range of soils. It is resistant to drought and frost. In Hobart Botanical gardens. It suits hardiness zones 5-10.

The young leaves are eaten as a potherb. The young shoots can be cut under the ground and peeled and used as an asparagus substitute. The tender flower clusters are eaten. The seeds can also be eaten and sprinkled on bread and cakes.

It can be grown by seed.