Sowbane (Chenopodium hybridum)
At a glance
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Exposure
- Full sun
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know how well it will grow in Britain, but it should succeed as a spring sown annual. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. An easily grown plant, succeeding in most soils but disliking shade.
Propagation
Seed - sow spring in situ. Most of the seed usually germinates within a few days of sowing.
Edible uses
Leaves - cooked and eaten like spinach. Probably used as a pot herb. The raw leaves should only be eaten in small quantities, see the notes above on toxicity. Seed - cooked. Ground into a powder and mixed with wheat or other cereals in making bread etc. The seed is small and fiddly, it should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before it is used in order to remove any saponins.
Medicinal uses
Analgesic.
Material uses
Gold/green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant.
Habitat
Rocky woods, thickets, clearings and waste places in N. America.
Native range
Europe, Asia, N. America - Canada to California.
Scientific synonyms Chenopodiastrum hybridum