Succeeds in an ordinary garden soil but prefers a moisture retentive not too fertile soil in sun or part shade. Repays generous treatment. Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits.

Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked. They contain about 1.9% fat, 5.4% pectin, 3.2% sugars, 27.6% cellulose, 1% tannin. Seed - raw or cooked. It is rather small and fiddly to utilize.

Seed - sow spring in situ.

Damp shady places. A common weed of cultivated land, avoiding shade.