Species Bush's Goosegoot
light-green fruits, green leaves and lime stems

Bush's Goosegoot

Chenopodium berlandieri var. bushianum

Bush's Goosegoot (Chenopodium berlandieri var. bushianum) is an edible annual plant in the amaranth family. Stems, up to 1 meter tall, are round and glabrous or slightly scabrid. The edible leaves are oval, toothed, and the flowers are white and shaped like a goosefoot. Bush Goosegoot grows in open, disturbed areas such as riparian forests, prairies, and roadsides. It is native to eastern North America, south to South Carolina and west to Texas. The leaves can be cooked like spinach while the seeds can be used to make flour for baking. In addition to its edible uses, this plant has a long history of use in traditional medicine for a variety of ailments.

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Division,Cutting,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun,part shade

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,yellow,purple

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Bush's Goosefoot should be watered moderately, about every 10 days to 2 weeks, or whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Water thoroughly to ensure that the soil is totally saturated, but take care to not overwater. Be sure to empty any saucers or trays underneath the pot after watering to avoid root rot.

sunlight

Bush's Goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri var. bushianum) is a hardy annual plant which is capable of surviving in many types of soil. This species of plant is adapted to a wide range of conditions and is highly tolerant of sunlight. This plant should receive full sun for at least 6 to 8 hours a day in order to promote optimal growth. However, it can survive in partial sun as well, but will be less productive and more prone to pest and disease problems when not given the proper direct sunlight. For optimal growth and health, try and position the plant in a sunny area near a window or patio in order to get the full benefit of the sun's rays.

pruning

Bush's Goosefoot should be pruned in late spring or early summer. Pruning should be light and mainly involve shaping and removing dead or diseased material. The plant also forms multiple stems. To keep it in a more attractive form and to encourage better yields, it can be pruned back by 1/3 or 2/3 of its height. Pruning only 1 of the longest stems to maintain an open growth habit is also an acceptable technique. The need for pruning will depend on how quickly the plant is growing and how fast it is producing seed. Once the plant has a well-established growth habit, pruning can be kept to a minimum.