Overview

Chenopodium berlandieri is a plant with a spreading branched habit in the genus Chenopodium, part of the Amaranthaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Chenopodium berlandieri grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. Suggested uses include wildlife gardens.

About

Chenopodium berlandieri is a spreading branched member of the Amaranthaceae with deciduous foliage. It grows well in full sun or partial shade and accepts a wide range of soils from chalk to clay, favouring moist but well-drained conditions. The species is fully hardy in the UK (H7) and tolerates both exposed and sheltered sites. Flowering occurs July to September.

About the genus

Chenopodium is a genus of numerous species of perennial or annual herbaceous flowering plants known as the goosefoot, which occur almost anywhere in the world. It is placed in the family Amaranthaceae in the APG II system; older classification systems, notably the widely used Cronquist system, separate it and its relatives as Chenopodiaceae, but this leaves the rest of the Amaranthaceae polyphyletic. However, among the Amaranthaceae, the genus Chenopodium is the namesake member of the subfamily Chenopodioideae.

Wikipedia contributors, "Chenopodium", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Chenopodium

In the garden

Chenopodium berlandieri belongs to the genus Chenopodium in the amaranth family and shows a spreading, branched habit with seasonally deciduous leaves. It is adaptable in soil chemistry, tolerating acid, neutral or alkaline ground, and performs across a broad textural range including chalk, clay, loam and sand. Give it a position with full sun or some afternoon shade; the plant handles both full sun and partial shade and stands up to exposed as well as sheltered situations. Aim for a soil that is moist but well drained rather than waterlogged; the species is fully hardy in the UK (H7), so it does not require winter protection in most sites. Use Chenopodium berlandieri where wildlife value and informal structure are desired: its habit suits margins of wildflower zones or untidy corners in a garden set aside for nature. It is suited to south-, east- or west-facing aspects and will fit into wildlife gardens without specialised soil amendments. Note that flowering runs from July to September.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Chenopodium

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, East-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness

H7

Plant details

Chenopodium berlandieri size, habit and characteristics

Habit

Spreading branched

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Wildlife gardens

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Chenopodium berlandieri

Propagation

Self- and wind pollinated, propagates by seed produced prolifically through the growing season. Seed can remain viable in the soil for many years

Pest resistance

May be susceptible to root nematodes

Disease resistance

May be susceptible to downy mildews

Frequently asked questions