Good King Henry
Blitum bonus-henricus
Formerly Chenopodium bonus-henricus · also Agathophytum bonus-henricus
Also known as Allgood, Fat-hen, Mercury
Climate Match for your location
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Good King Henry is a perennial vegetable with spinach-like leaves and edible shoots, historically valued as a spring green and potherb. It self-seeds readily and is a low-maintenance addition to permaculture systems.
Why grow it
Good King Henry produces edible shoots and leaves earlier in spring than many annual spinaches and greens, making it useful for extending the harvest season in cool climates. As a perennial, it requires less annual soil disturbance and replanting than spinach or chard, though its productivity typically declines after the third or fourth year. It tolerates partial shade better than most leafy greens and performs adequately in marginal soils, suiting it to less-managed areas of a permaculture plot.
Watch out for
While self-seeding can be convenient, seedlings may appear in unintended locations and benefit from occasional thinning to prevent overcrowding. Harvesting should begin conservatively in the first year to allow the plant to establish a strong root system, with heavier cropping deferred to subsequent years.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
Native Range
Central Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Good King Henry is a perennial vegetable with spinach-like leaves and edible shoots, historically valued as a spring green and potherb. It self-seeds readily and is a low-maintenance addition to permaculture systems.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Good King Henry grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Good King Henry produces edible shoots and leaves earlier in spring than many annual spinaches and greens, making it useful for extending the harvest season in cool climates. As a perennial, it requires less annual soil disturbance and replanting than spinach or chard, though its productivity typically declines after the third or fourth year. It tolerates partial shade better than most leafy greens and performs adequately in marginal soils, suiting it to less-managed areas of a permaculture plot.
Watch out for
While self-seeding can be convenient, seedlings may appear in unintended locations and benefit from occasional thinning to prevent overcrowding. Harvesting should begin conservatively in the first year to allow the plant to establish a strong root system, with heavier cropping deferred to subsequent years.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Amaranthaceae
Native Range
Central Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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