Chenopodium album (Fat hen)

Botanical name

Chenopodium album

Other names

Fat hen, Bacon weed, Common goosefoot, Dirtweed, Dirty Dick, Frost blite, Lamb's quarters, Muck weed, Mutton tops, Pigweed, Lambsquarters, White goosefoot, Baconweed

Genus

Chenopodium Chenopodium

Species

C. album - C. album is an upright then recumbent annual, typically considered a weed, with variable, triangular to spear-shaped, light green leaves, lance-shaped on the upper part of the stems, and panicles of green, inconspicuous flowers from summer into early autumn.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Clump-forming, Irregular

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Colour

Flower

Insignificant or absent, Green in Summer; Insignificant or absent, Green in Autumn

Foliage

Green in Autumn

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How to care

Watch out for

Pests

Seems to be trouble free.

Specific pests

Leaf mining moths

Diseases

Seems to trouble free.

General care

Pruning

Pick leaves as required.

Propagation

Seed can be sowed in situ though this is usually unnecessary since the plant self-sows readily.

Propagation methods

Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Chenopodium album (Fat hen) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 0.5m after 1-2 years.

Suggested uses

Add to salads, Beds and borders, Flavouring food and drinks

Cultivation

Grows best in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade but will tolerate a wide range of conditions. Extremely invasive. Cooked leaves are edible, but only in small quantities.

Soil type

Clay, Loamy, Sandy

Soil drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 12, Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4, Zone 3, Zone 2, Zone 1

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Chenopodium album (Fat hen)

Common pest name

Acorn disease; Citrus little leaf; Citrus stubborn disease; Little leaf of citrus; Stubborn disease of citrus

Scientific pest name

Spiroplasma citri

Type

Bacterium

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Bacterial pest affecting citrus and field vegetables now present in parts of the EU. Carrots are the main crop potentially at risk; but main vectors responsible for transmission are unlikely to establish in the UK. EU regulations should be updated to reflect extended host range. Industry may be interested in pursuing research to investigate impacts on field vegetables.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/