Fat Hen (Chenopodium album)

Most people know what fat hen looks like, but they might not know the name. Also known as Lamb’s Quarters, it’s a very common ‘weed’ that people wish to eradicate from their gardens. I think it’s quite pretty, with delicate, silvery leaves and tiny whitish flowers. It’s elegant as well, providing a lot of softness to the edges of fields and woodlands.

What it looks like

Fat Hen grows 30-150cm tall. It is an herbaceous plant with a delicate appearance. Silver-green, diamond shaped leaves grow around the upright, green or grey-green central stem, with clusters of tiny flowers appearing at the ends of the stalks in mid-summer to autumn. Flowers have yellow stamens and petals which are greenish white.

Uses

Fat hen is edible, and the stems, shoots, leaves and flowers can be harvested. Greens can be cooked by either boiling or frying and work well with onions or garlic as a flavouring, themselves not being strongly flavoured. You can add it to soup. You can also eat it raw. Avoid eating it in very large quantities as it contains a high level of oxalic acid which can cause vomiting or stomach upset.