Pringle’s Goosefoot: A Lesser-Known Native Annual Worth Knowing About
If you’re the type of gardener who loves discovering obscure native plants, you might be intrigued by Pringle’s goosefoot (Chenopodium fremontii var. pringlei). This little-known annual forb is one of those plants that flies under the radar in the native gardening world, and honestly, there’s a good reason for that – but let’s dive in anyway!
What Exactly Is Pringle’s Goosefoot?
Pringle’s goosefoot is a variety of Fremont’s goosefoot, belonging to the Chenopodium genus – you might know some of its more famous relatives like quinoa and lamb’s quarters. As an annual forb, this plant completes its entire life cycle in one growing season and lacks the woody stems you’d find on shrubs or trees. Instead, it’s a herbaceous plant that grows, flowers, sets seed, and dies all within a single year.
The plant gets its goosefoot name from the characteristic shape of its leaves, which supposedly resemble the webbed feet of geese. Whether you see the resemblance or not probably depends on how creative your imagination is!
Where Does It Call Home?
This native plant has a pretty limited range within the lower 48 states. You’ll find Pringle’s goosefoot naturally occurring in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Texas – quite a scattered distribution that hints at this plant’s specific habitat preferences and possibly its rarity in the wild.
The Reality Check: Should You Grow It?
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. While Pringle’s goosefoot is undoubtedly a legitimate native plant worthy of respect, it’s not exactly what you’d call garden-center material. Information about its specific growing requirements, ornamental value, and availability is practically nonexistent in horticultural circles.
This doesn’t mean it’s not worth knowing about – quite the opposite! But it does mean that if you’re looking to add native plants to your garden, you might want to consider some of its more well-documented and readily available relatives or other native plants from your region.
What We Don’t Know (And Why That Matters)
Unfortunately, specific details about Pringle’s goosefoot are hard to come by. We don’t have clear information about:
- Its specific growing conditions and soil preferences
- How tall or wide it gets
- What kind of wildlife benefits it provides
- Whether it has any ornamental appeal
- How to successfully propagate or grow it
This lack of horticultural information suggests that Pringle’s goosefoot either hasn’t been extensively cultivated or studied for garden use, or it may have very specific habitat requirements that make it challenging to grow outside its natural range.
Better Alternatives for Your Native Garden
If you’re interested in native plants from the Chenopodium family or other native annuals, consider looking into:
- Lamb’s quarters (Chenopodium album) – though check if it’s native to your specific area
- Other native forbs and wildflowers indigenous to your region
- Native plants with similar ecological roles that are better documented and more readily available
The Bottom Line
Pringle’s goosefoot represents the fascinating diversity of native plants across North America, even if it’s not destined to become the next big thing in native gardening. Sometimes the most valuable plants are the ones that remind us how much we still have to learn about our native flora.
If you’re in North Dakota, South Dakota, or Texas and happen to spot this plant in the wild, consider yourself lucky to witness a piece of your local natural heritage. Just remember to observe and appreciate without disturbing – some plants are better left to do their thing in their natural habitats.
For your garden, focus on well-documented native plants that will give you the best chance of success while still supporting local ecosystems. Your local native plant society or extension office can point you toward natives that are both ecologically valuable and garden-worthy!
