
trefle.io · Taken Feb 19, 2020 by Udo Herkommer (cc-by-sa)
Amaranthaceae
Good king henry
Blitum bonus-henricus
Also known as Poor man's asparagus, Lincolnshire spinach, Mercury goosefoot, Blitum bonus-henricus var. alpinum
Edibles & Herbs · Native Plants · Edible · Heritage Vegetable · Perennial Vegetable · Leaf Vegetable · Medicinal · Easy Care · Kitchen Garden · Chenopodium · European Native · Spinach Substitute
Good King Henry is a robust, easy-to-grow heritage edible perennial whose young leaves, shoots, and flower buds can be harvested like spinach or asparagus throughout the growing season. Plant it in a sunny to partially shaded spot with fertile, well-drained soil and it will reliably return each year with minimal care. Harvest leaves regularly to encourage fresh tender growth and avoid letting the plant flower if you prefer to focus on leaf production.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 5 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately; keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 7–7.5
- Temperature
- -20°F to 90°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division
Hardiness
USDA 4a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 16 in
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Albania, Alberta, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Rus, Connecticut, Corse, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Illinois, Ireland
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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