Is Strawberry Goosefoot Poisonous? Separating Fact from Fiction

December 23, 2025 •

4 min read

While sometimes mistaken for a toxic plant, strawberry goosefoot (Blitum capitatum) has been used as a food source by indigenous peoples and early settlers, demonstrating its historical edibility. This versatile wild plant, also known as strawberry blite or strawberry spinach, is a member of the goosefoot family.

Quick Summary

Strawberry goosefoot is an edible annual plant, but contains oxalates in its leaves and saponins in its seeds, requiring proper preparation and moderation. Cooking reduces the oxalic acid content in the leaves, while soaking and rinsing is necessary for seeds to remove saponins.

Key Points

Edible with Precautions: Strawberry goosefoot is not poisonous, but its leaves contain oxalates and its seeds contain saponins, requiring moderation and proper preparation.
Cook the Leaves: Cooking the leaves significantly reduces their oxalic acid content, making them safer for consumption, especially for those sensitive to oxalates.
Process the Seeds: The small seeds must be soaked overnight and thoroughly rinsed to remove saponins before being cooked or ground into a meal.
Harvest Young Leaves: The young leaves are the most tender and flavorful, and are best used as a spinach substitute in cooked dishes.
Enjoy the Fruits: The red, berry-like clusters are edible raw or cooked and can add mild flavor and color to salads, jams, or syrups.
Confirm Identification: Always confirm the identification of any wild plant before consumption, and be aware of similar-looking, but harmless, plants like the mock strawberry.
Consult Medical Advice: Individuals with specific health concerns like kidney stones, gout, or arthritis should consult a medical professional before consuming plants high in oxalates.

Understanding Strawberry Goosefoot: Edibility and Identification

Strawberry goosefoot, scientifically known as Blitum capitatum, is a plant that often sparks curiosity due to its name and appearance. It belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, the same family as spinach and beets, which explains its similar taste and composition. The plant is not truly poisonous, but it does contain certain natural compounds that must be managed, particularly when consuming raw leaves or seeds. The red, berry-like fruits are visually striking and are the source of the plant's common name, but they are not true berries.

Identifying Strawberry Goosefoot

Correct identification is critical before consuming any wild plant. Strawberry goosefoot has distinct features that help distinguish it from other species.

Leaves: The leaves are triangular or arrowhead-shaped, often with coarse teeth and a wavy margin, resembling a goose's foot. They are a source of vitamins C and A.
Fruits: Small, pulpy, and bright red, the fruits form in dense clusters in the leaf axils and along the stems. They contain tiny black seeds and have a mild, somewhat bland flavor.
Growth Habit: It is an annual plant, growing from 8 to 40 inches tall, and is often found in disturbed soil, roadsides, and open fields.

Edibility and Potential Hazards

While the entire plant is considered edible, responsible harvesting and preparation are essential due to the presence of oxalates and saponins.

Leaves: The young leaves are the most palatable and can be used as a spinach substitute, either raw or cooked. However, they contain oxalic acid, so raw consumption should be limited, especially for individuals with a history of kidney stones, gout, or arthritis. Cooking the leaves helps to significantly reduce the oxalate content.
Berries: The bright red fruit clusters are edible raw or cooked. They have a mild flavor, which is sometimes compared to beets or mulberries, and can add color to salads or be used in jams and syrups.
Seeds: The small, fiddly seeds can be ground into a meal. However, they contain saponins, which are more toxic to some creatures than humans but can cause mild gastrointestinal upset in large quantities. The seeds should be soaked overnight and thoroughly rinsed before cooking to remove the saponins.

Proper Preparation for Safe Consumption

Preparing strawberry goosefoot correctly ensures that potential risks are minimized and the plant's nutritional benefits can be enjoyed. Here are some steps to follow:

Harvest: Select young, tender leaves for the best flavor and lower oxalate levels. The fruits are ready when they are a vibrant red.
Wash: Always thoroughly wash all parts of the plant to remove any dirt or contaminants.
Cooking Leaves: For the leaves, cooking is highly recommended, especially for sensitive individuals. You can steam, boil, or sauté them just as you would spinach.
Processing Seeds: If using the seeds, they must be soaked in water overnight and then rinsed multiple times to remove saponins. After processing, they can be cooked or ground.
Moderation: Regardless of preparation, it is best to consume strawberry goosefoot in moderation, similar to how one would treat other high-oxalate greens like spinach or swiss chard.

Comparison: Strawberry Goosefoot vs. Other Plants

Several plants can be confused with strawberry goosefoot, and knowing the differences is crucial for safe foraging.


Feature	Strawberry Goosefoot (Blitum capitatum)	Mock Strawberry (Potentilla indica)	Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album)
Family	Amaranthaceae	Rosaceae	Amaranthaceae
Key Visuals	Triangular leaves, dense red 'berry' clusters along stems	Small, yellow flowers; red, tasteless berries that point upwards	Diamond-shaped leaves with white, powdery coating on new growth
Edibility	Leaves and berries edible (with precautions); seeds processed	Berries and plant are harmless but bland	Leaves and seeds edible, similar to spinach
Hazards	Oxalates in leaves; saponins in seeds	None noted; berries are not poisonous	Oxalates and saponins, similar to strawberry goosefoot

Conclusion: Safe and Edible with Knowledge

In conclusion, strawberry goosefoot is not a poisonous plant, and its leaves and fruits are indeed edible when handled correctly. The presence of naturally occurring oxalates and saponins means that moderation is key, and cooking is recommended for the leaves and processing for the seeds. As with all foraged foods, accurate identification is non-negotiable. Foragers who can confidently identify Blitum capitatum and understand its proper preparation can safely enjoy this nutritious and visually appealing wild edible. Always be cautious, harvest from clean areas free of pesticides, and consider an identification guide like the resources found on Plants for a Future (PFAF) to ensure accuracy.

External Resource For more detailed plant information and identification resources, consult a reliable botanical guide or database such as Plants for a Future: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Blitum+capitatum.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, the red, berry-like clusters of strawberry goosefoot are not poisonous and are edible. They have a mild, somewhat bland flavor and can be eaten raw or cooked.

Young strawberry goosefoot leaves can be eaten raw in moderation. However, they contain oxalic acid, so cooking is recommended to reduce the oxalate content, particularly if you plan to eat larger amounts.

All parts of the strawberry goosefoot plant—the young leaves, the red fruit clusters, and the seeds—are edible with proper preparation. The roots can also be eaten, tasting faintly like beets.

Oxalic acid is a natural compound found in many plants, including strawberry goosefoot, spinach, and chard. In large quantities, it can inhibit the body's absorption of certain nutrients and can aggravate conditions like kidney stones or gout.

Saponins in strawberry goosefoot seeds are generally harmless in small amounts and are poorly absorbed by the body. To remove them, the seeds should be soaked overnight and rinsed thoroughly before cooking.

Strawberry goosefoot has distinct triangular or arrowhead-shaped leaves and dense, bright red fruit clusters located in the leaf axils and along the stems. It is important to distinguish it from other wild plants, such as the harmless but inedible mock strawberry, which has yellow flowers.

While there is less specific information on toxicity for pets, the presence of oxalates and saponins suggests it's best to prevent pets from consuming large quantities. Symptoms may include mild gastrointestinal upset.

Yes, strawberry goosefoot leaves can be used in any recipe that calls for spinach, such as soups, stews, and sautéed dishes. Cooking is recommended to reduce the oxalic acid content.