About
Blitum capitatum is an upright annual that reaches heights of approximately 60 cm. It features triangular foliage and produces small pale green flowers in summer, which appear in clusters along the stem. These flowers give way to bright red, edible fruits that resemble strawberries.
About the genus
This genus comprises annual and perennial herbs that thrive across Europe, Asia, North Africa, the Americas, and Australia. The plants feature triangular leaves that range from green to purple, and in summer, they produce spikes adorned with bright red fruits resembling strawberries.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial, Herbs - Culinary
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.5-1 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden
- Native to
- Europe
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in a moist but well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun or partial shade
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free