Good King Henry - Chenopodium bonus-henricus

Good King Henry, sometimes called wild spinach, is a vegetable plant grown for its leaves. It is a hardy perennial vegetable, remaining in place for several years: ideal for permaculture. The leaves are consumed cooked, similar to spinach. Plant it in April-May or September-October. Harvesting takes place in spring and autumn.

Good King Henry is grown for its leaves, which are consumed cooked, similar to spinach. This hardy and perennial plant was frequently gathered during the medieval period. Good King Henry exists in the wild, preferably at higher altitudes, in ancient inhabited places or along paths, where the soil is rich in nitrogen. There are two versions regarding the origin of its name. The name may refer to Henry III of Navarre, future King of France Henry IV, who greatly appreciated this vegetable. Its name could also come from Old German, 'gut heinrich' (heinrich meaning plants growing spontaneously near houses). Its vermifuge qualities would then have earned it the name Good King Henry, in contrast to the mercury plant called 'bad henry'.

Unlike white goosefoot and giant goosefoot, the Good King Henry remains in place for several years, about 4 to 5 years. The foliage disappears in winter and new buds appear in spring. Flowering, in the form of small spike-like flowers, occurs from June to September. Good King Henry reaches a height of 20 to 60 cm (8 to 24in) when fully mature. It is rich in vitamins A and C, as well as minerals.

Harvesting: pick the leaves as needed, preferably in the morning. Harvesting takes place in spring and autumn, when the leaves are the most tender.

Storage: the leaves should be consumed quickly after harvesting, ideally on the same day.

Gardener's tip: To limit watering, we recommend mulching the soil in summer with thin successive layers of grass clippings, if possible mixed with dead leaves. This protection, which keeps the soil moist, also limits weed growth.