Chenopodium album var. candicans: A Mysterious Garden Variety
If you’ve stumbled upon the name Chenopodium album var. candicans in your plant research, you’ve discovered one of gardening’s more elusive varieties. This particular variant of the well-known lamb’s quarters family remains something of a botanical mystery, with limited documentation available to guide gardeners.
What We Know About This Plant
Chenopodium album var. candicans appears to be a whitish or silvery-leaved variety of the common lamb’s quarters. The name candicans typically refers to plants with white or grayish-white foliage, suggesting this variety may have distinctive pale or silvery leaves that set it apart from the standard green-leaved forms.
The Challenge of Growing Something Uncommon
Here’s where things get interesting (and a bit frustrating): specific information about this particular variety is remarkably scarce. Unlike its better-documented relatives, Chenopodium album var. candicans exists in a sort of botanical limbo, with limited details about:
- Its exact native range and status
- Specific growing requirements
- Availability in the nursery trade
- Distinct characteristics beyond the suggested pale foliage
Should You Try to Grow It?
Given the uncertainty surrounding this variety’s status and characteristics, most gardeners might want to consider better-documented alternatives. If you’re interested in lamb’s quarters or similar plants, you might have better success with:
- Well-established native species in your region
- Documented varieties of Chenopodium with known growing requirements
- Native alternatives that provide similar ecological benefits
The Bottom Line
While Chenopodium album var. candicans sounds intriguing, especially if you’re drawn to plants with silvery foliage, the lack of reliable information makes it a challenging choice for most gardeners. Sometimes in the plant world, mystery doesn’t equal magic – it just means you might end up with more questions than answers.
If you do encounter this variety through specialized sources, approach with curiosity but realistic expectations. And remember, there are plenty of well-documented native plants with beautiful silvery foliage that might give you the look you’re after with much more reliable results.
