Good King Henry

Blitum bonus-henricus

Perennial spinach: early leaves, spring shoots like asparagus, and it comes back for years in part shade.

Type: herb or perennial · perennial vegetables, greens and herbs
Hardiness: zones 3 to 8
Light: part shade
Size: about 2 ft tall, 1.5 ft wide
Harvest: April to June
From: Mountains of Europe
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.

Good for: food, pollinators.

Native to: Temperate Europe. Hardy in zones 3 to 8.

The story

Good King Henry is a perennial spinach that grew by every cottage door in medieval Europe. Nobody is certain which Henry was meant, or whether he was a king at all; the name may be borrowed from a German household sprite.

Planting

Part shade and rich, moist soil. Sow in fall, since the seed needs cold, or plant divisions.

Growing

Let it settle for a year before picking. Feed with compost, and divide every few years.

Harvest and use

Cut the spring shoots like asparagus, pick leaves all season and cook them, and steam the flower buds like broccoli.

What to watch for

Older leaves are bitter; cook them, or soak in salt water first. It is high in oxalates, like spinach.

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More perennial vegetables, greens and herbs

General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home