Strawberry Spinach: A Beautiful New World Herb for Food and Paint
Chenopodium capitatum
FROM: PULLUPYOURPLANTS.COM
It is tempting to compare Chenopodium capitatum to Dracula because it is beautiful, has blood-red berries, and it probably won’t appear in your garden unless you invite it. However, Dracula will not multiply and overtake your home; Dracula will likely suck your blood out or turn you into an evil sex slave of some kind: NOT APPLICABLE.
Strawberry Blight fruit tastes a little bit like slightly sweet beets. The flavor isn’t terrible, but, its hardly anything to linger on. Maybe we can compare Chenopodium capitatum to models who may look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside…, no no no… let’s not risk receiving hate mail from gorgeous men and women everywhere (SEE: delusions of grandeur).
Alright, Alright. If we force the simile through with enough authority, maybe we can make it work.
Strawberry Blite plants are exactly like spontaneously multiplying vampire models who hang out in moist parts of America and Canada.
This introduction has officially spun off of the tarmac and bursts into flames… those of you who are still alive, please stay calm and allow me to tenderly usher you to the point.
Chenopodium capitatum hasn’t been the most talked about wild plant, it has comparatively little traditional use as a medicine, and its flavor and texture as a potherb is… ehh. What Chenopodium capitatum DOES have is charm, and it has loads of it.
Strawberry Blite’s vibrant red berries are visually delicious; it grows like a weed you want to look at; the berries can be used to paint stuff, and color food; the plant lends itself to gorgeous botanical illustrations and photographs, and a Canadian Cree lady named Moh suggested to me the berries can be used to color your lips. I am going to try this to goof around with my son.
The point: when you are out hiking and you see Chenopodium capitatum, perhaps you will smile because this plant is FUN.
Welcome, traveller, to the purrrrdy world of Strawberry Blite.
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By: Kevin Healey
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For my beautiful wife and son, as always.
