Common Lambsquarters
Chenopodium album
An upright, branching herbaceous plant featuring pale green, diamond-shaped or triangular leaves with a whitish, powdery coating underneath, and small, green clustered flowers.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
- Water
- Water moderately when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Highly adaptable to varying moisture levels.
- Growth
- Annual herbaceous plant with an upright, branching habit, reaching mature heights of 2 to 6 feet and a spread of 1 to 2 feet with a fast growth rate.
Care instructions
Thrives in full sun with average, well-draining soil. Requires moderate watering during dry spells, though it exhibits good drought tolerance once established. Fertilization is generally unnecessary.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily
Watering
Water moderately when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Highly adaptable to varying moisture levels.
Soil
Adaptable to most soil types including clay, loam, and sandy soils, preferring good drainage and a neutral to slightly alkaline pH range of 6.0 to 7.5.
Hardiness zone
USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11
Growth habit
Annual herbaceous plant with an upright, branching habit, reaching mature heights of 2 to 6 feet and a spread of 1 to 2 feet with a fast growth rate.
Bloom season
Blooms from mid-summer through autumn with tiny, inconspicuous green flowers clustered along terminal spikes.
Propagation
Propagated strictly by seeds, which drop profusely and germinate readily in disturbed soils.
Common pests & issues
Generally resistant to major pests and diseases, though occasionally susceptible to aphids or leaf miners.
Similar species
Similar to other Chenopodium species such as nettle-leaved goosefoot, but distinguished by its specific leaf shape and distinct powdery mealy coating on the foliage.