Pitseed Goosefoot: A Rare Native Annual Worth Considering
Meet pitseed goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri var. macrocalycium), a humble yet intriguing annual forb that might just surprise you. While it may not win any beauty contests in the garden center, this unassuming native plant has a story worth telling and characteristics that make it worthy of consideration for the right garden setting.
What’s in a Name?
Scientifically known as Chenopodium berlandieri var. macrocalycium, this plant goes by the common name pitseed goosefoot. You might occasionally see it listed under its synonym Chenopodium macrocalycium Aellen, but don’t let the botanical tongue-twisters intimidate you – it’s just a member of the goosefoot family with distinctively large calyces (the outer parts of its flowers).
Native Status and Where It Calls Home
Here’s where things get interesting: pitseed goosefoot is native to the lower 48 United States, making it a true American original. However, it’s considered non-native in Canada, where it has naturalized and now reproduces on its own in the wild. This plant has made itself at home across a impressive range of states, from the Maritime provinces of Canada down through much of the eastern United States.
You can find pitseed goosefoot growing naturally in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and Virginia.
A Plant That’s Playing Hard to Get
Before you rush out to find seeds, here’s something important to know: in New Jersey, this variety has a rarity status of S3, meaning it’s considered vulnerable. This designation puts it on the Highlands Listed species roster, indicating that while it’s not endangered, it’s uncommon enough to warrant attention.
If you’re considering growing pitseed goosefoot, please ensure any plants or seeds come from responsible, ethical sources. Never collect from wild populations, as this can further threaten already vulnerable species.
Getting to Know This Annual Forb
Pitseed goosefoot is what botanists call a forb – essentially a non-woody flowering plant. As an annual, it completes its entire life cycle in one growing season, sprouting from seed, flowering, setting seed, and dying all within a year. This means you’ll need to replant it annually or allow it to self-seed if conditions are favorable.
Being a forb means this plant lacks any significant woody tissue above ground. Instead, it puts its energy into herbaceous growth, focusing on leaves, stems, and reproductive structures rather than building permanent woody framework.
Garden Potential and Practical Considerations
Let’s be honest – pitseed goosefoot isn’t going to be the star of your flower border or win any curb appeal awards. However, it has its place in certain garden contexts, particularly if you’re interested in:
- Supporting native plant conservation efforts
- Creating habitat gardens that focus on ecological function over flashy blooms
- Educational gardens that showcase regional flora
- Natural or wildflower gardens with a focus on indigenous species
The Growing Challenge
Here’s where we hit a snag: specific growing information for this particular variety is quite limited. As a member of the Chenopodium family, it likely shares some characteristics with its relatives, but without detailed horticultural trials specific to var. macrocalycium, we can’t make definitive recommendations about optimal growing conditions, care requirements, or landscape performance.
What we do know is that as an annual forb, it will need to be grown from seed each year. The timing, soil preferences, light requirements, and other care details remain largely undocumented in readily available horticultural literature.
Should You Grow It?
The decision to grow pitseed goosefoot comes down to your gardening goals and philosophy. If you’re passionate about native plant conservation, interested in rare species preservation, or creating authentic regional habitat, this plant might appeal to you – provided you can source it responsibly.
However, if you’re looking for reliable garden performance, known growing requirements, or significant ornamental value, you might want to consider other native alternatives that are better documented and more readily available.
The Bottom Line
Pitseed goosefoot represents an interesting piece of our native flora puzzle – not flashy, not well-known, but authentically native and worthy of conservation attention. While it may not be the right choice for every gardener, those interested in rare native species preservation might find it a worthwhile addition to their conservation efforts.
Just remember: if you do decide to grow it, source responsibly and consider it more of a conservation project than a traditional garden plant. Sometimes the most valuable plants in our gardens are the ones that connect us to the broader story of our natural heritage, even if they don’t make the cover of gardening magazines.
