Lamb’s-quarters is a highly adaptable, nutritious, summer annual “weed” in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae). It is native to Europe, Asia and North America, where it is found growing in waste sites, farm land and riparian wetland habitats and is often one of the first weeds to appear on newly disturbed soils. The species epithet is Latin for “white,” referring to the pale color of the young shoots. Lamb’s-quarters is at its best in full sun and moist, fertile, loamy soils, though it tolerates partial shade and a range of soil types. Plants grown in more fertile soils have a more palatable taste and are a nutritious weed. Each plant produces large amounts of seed that allow this plant to become aggressive in the landscape. Pulling up seedlings before they set seed or mowing over plants before they produce seed are two management options. As one of the common names suggests, young plants are useful for feeding chickens. Lamb’s-quarters grows rapidly, spreading greenish-blue to gray leaves anywhere from 4 inches to 6 feet tall and 4 to 12 inches wide, depending on the nutrient level of the soil. It is covered with soft, woolly hairs, so it has a velvety feel. The flowers are not very showy and are pollinated by the wind. Young leaves and shoots are edible. The plant’s older parts are not particularly palatable and are mildly toxic when consumed raw. Plant Lamb’s-quarters in naturalized areas to feed wildlife. It attracts butterflies, moths, small mammals and songbirds. Or grow this plant as a summer annual vegetable in the edible garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It can be quite weedy in disturbed areas and the seeds can remain viable in the soil for many years. Pulling up seedlings before they set seed or mowing over plants before they produce seed are two management options. See Clemson's publication on broadleaf weeds .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Multi-stemmed; Pyramidal
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green; Pink
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Opposite
Leaf shape
Deltoid; Lanceolate; Linear; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire; Lobed; Serrate; Undulate
Leaf feel
Soft; Velvety
Leaf value
Edible
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
There are two types of leaves on this plant– oppositely arranged cotyledons and true, alternate leaves. They are 5 inches long, goose foot-shaped (though other shapes are possible too such as triangular, ovate, lanceolate, or even linear), and smooth-margined with some teeth along the edge or undulate lobed. Leaves are green, sometimes with tints of pink or purple along the margins, and a white mealy coating produced by tiny hairs on the leaves. The hairs are denser on the underside of the leaves, making it appear lighter in color. As the leaves mature, the white hairs become more sparse. The petioles are about half the length of the leaves.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Green; Pink
Flower form
Insignificant; Panicle; Spike
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
In (generally) terminal clusters mid-summer through fall and are pollinated by the wind. Flowers can be very light green or pink panicles of spikes. Individual flowers are 1/10 inches wide with no petals 5 stamens with yellow anthers and the panciles can be up to 8 inches long but are usually smaller.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Black; Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Copious amounts (50,000 or more) are extremely tiny almost rounded seeds that are black, green, or brown.
Stem color
Cream/Tan; Green; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
As a seedling, part of the stem comes in light colors of green, red, purple, or tan and is smooth as well as striated (meaning there are lines on the stem). The stems are stiff and angular.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Eurasia
Wildlife value
The leaves are a food source for many caterpillars including the skippers Staphylus hayhurstii (Hayhurst's Scallopwing) and Pholisora catullus (Common Sootywing), and moths Grammia virgo (Virgin Tiger Moth), Emmelina monodactyla (Morning Glory Plume Moth), Amyna octo (The Eight-Spot), Chrysoesthia lingulacella (Flamboyent Twirler Moth), and Scythris limbella (Chenopodium Scythris Moth), beetles, grasshoppers, mammals, and songbirds especially sparrows.
Attracts
Butterflies; Moths; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Play value
Wildlife Food Source; Wildlife Larval Host
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit; Leaves; Flowers; Seeds; Shoots
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
Seeds, leaves, shoots, and flowers can be edible to an extent though they are not particularly palatable. However, the plant has saponins and oxalic acid so cook, steam, and/or freeze before consuming parts of this plant.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Native Americans have made a flour from the dried seeds.