California Goosefoot (Chenopodium californicum)

Family: Chenopodiaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Chenopodium californicum is a ANNUAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft). It is in flower from July to October, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves, Shoots

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Leaves and young shoots - cooked. Used like spinach. The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - cooked. — Leaves and young shoots - cooked.; Used like spinach.; The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity.; The seed is usually dried then ground into a powder and used with cereal flours in making bread etc.

Habitat & North American Range

Dry to moist slopes, ledges, plains, yellow-pine forests, yucca-juniper woodlands, chaparral and under oaks and willows at elevations of 30 - 1500 metres. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)