Edible Non-Native Plants*

Allium × proliferum
Red Walking Onion / Topsetting Onion / Egyptian Walking Onion / Tree Onion

Amaryllidaceae family
Perennial in zones 3-10
An ancient hybrid of the shallot and the Welsh onion, arising somewhere in the Mediterranean region

This perennial allium "walks" by setting bulbils on top of its stalks, that eventually droop to the ground and root to form the next generation in a new spot. The bulbils can also be be harvested to propagate or to eat. All parts are edible.* Bulbils.

Allium tuberosum
Garlic Chives / Maroi Nakuppi / Nira / Buchu / Dunduko Sag / Hẹ / Oriental Garlic / Asian Chives / Chinese Chives / Chinese Leek / 

Amaryllidaceae family
Perennial in zones 3-10 (evergreen in zones 8+)
Native to the Shanxi province, China
Has the potential to become invasive - deadhead to prevent unwanted self-seeding

This perennial, rhizomatous, clump-forming allium is easy to grow in many conditions and may spread readily by seeds. It can also be intentionally propagated by dividing the clumps. It is widely cultivated and naturalized around the world. The leaves, bulbs, and flowers are edible.* Available as seeds, or bareroot.

Amaranthus cruentus
Red Callaloo / Blood Amaranth / Red Amaranth / Prince's feather / Mexican Grain Amaranth

Amaranthaceae family
Tender annual in zones 2-11
Native from Central Mexico to Nicaragua

Red amaranth is a nutritious leafy green and grain, used globally in dishes like spinach, curries, and porridge, and can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in stir-fries, soups, and sauces. Its leaves are rich in protein, iron, and vitamins, while the seeds can be cooked as a cereal, popped like popcorn, or ground into gluten-free flour, with a nutty flavor when cooked.*

Highly ornamental flower panicles form on the tops of the 4-6 foot plants - also on side branches when topping is the harvest method. A freely seeding annual, this attractive crop plant will self-sow in subsequent years. Available as seeds.

Armoracia rusticana
Horseradish / Meerrettich / Chren

Brassicaceae family
Perennial in zones 2-9
Native to Southeastern Europe and Western Asia
Not invasive, but vigorous and spreading

Grown worldwide for the edible roots, this plant also has edible leaves.* Pull plants after first killing frost, divide, harvest and replant. Dug on demand.

Basella alba 'Rubra'
Red Malabar Spinach / Vine Spinach / Ceylon Spinach / Indian Spinach

Basellaceae family
Perennial in Zones 10 and up, but acts as a reseeding annual in the rest of the US
Native to Asia and New Guinea

Grown worldwide for the edible roots, this plant also has edible leaves.* Pull plants after first killing frost, divide, harvest and replant. Dug on demand.

Coleus amboinicus 'Variegatus'
Ambonese Mint / Karpooravalli / Doddapatre / Ajwain / Patharchur / Panikoorka / Ova Paan / Vamu Aaku / Mexican Mint / Indian Borage / Spanish Thyme / Cuban Oregano / formerly Plectranthus amboinicus

Lamiaceae family
Perennial in zone 9 and up; potted or annual elsewhere
Native to parts of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and India

This world-traveling plant goes by many misleading nicknames. It is a broad-leaf, fuzzy mint with a oregano-like smell. Used widely for culinary and medicinal uses.* It is tender in my area and will die, but should be controlled cautiously in areas where it can overwinter.

Ficus carica 'Brown Turkey'
Common Fig 'Brown Turkey' / ‘La Perpetuelle’ / ‘Brown Italian’ / ‘Brown Naples’ / ‘Long Naples’

Moraceae family
Perennial in zones 7-10,
Native to the Mediterranean and southwestern Asia
Non-aggressive and non-spreading

Under human cultivation for more than 11,000 year, this ancient edible grows quickly in to a small- to medium-sized deciduous tree. The large, attractive leaves have 3-5 lobes. The fruit, which are actually modified flowers, are eaten fresh, dried, and cooked as jam and other uses. Dried slices store well. Leaves are used in tea.*

The Brown Turkey cultivar was brought to England in the 1700s without documentation, so its origins remain mysterious. It is the most well-known fig cultivar, low-maintenance and one of the most cold-tolerant. This is the earliest-ripening of the figs that I grow.

Ficus carica 'Danny's Delight'
Common Fig 'Danny's Delight' / ‘Danny's Delite’ / ‘Danny's Delight Dark’ / ‘Danny's Delite Dark’

Moraceae family
Perennial in zones 4b-10
Native to the Mediterranean and southwestern Asia
Non-aggressive and non-spreading

Under human cultivation for more than 11,000 year, this ancient edible grows quickly in to a small- to medium-sized deciduous tree. The large, attractive leaves have 3-5 lobes. The fruit, which are actually modified flowers, are eaten fresh, dried, and cooked as jam and other uses. Dried slices store well. Leaves are used in tea.*

The Danny's Delight cultivar was discovered and introduced in the early 2000s by the Hartmann’s Plant Company of Michigan. Low-maintenance and cold-tolerant. Fruit is very dark and more elongated than many other varieties. Mid-season ripening (of the figs that I grow).

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Ficus carica 'Texas Everbearing'
Improved Brown Turkey / Brown Turkey

Moraceae family
Perennial in zones 5-9
Native to the Mediterranean and southwestern Asia
Non-aggressive and non-spreading

Under human cultivation for more than 11,000 year, this ancient edible grows quickly in to a small- to medium-sized deciduous tree. The large, attractive leaves have 3-5 lobes. The fruit, which are actually modified flowers, are eaten fresh, dried, and cooked as jam and other uses. Dried slices store well. Leaves are used in tea.*

Some folks say that Texas Everbearing is just a synonym for Brown Turkey figs. While this may be true for some, the habit of my Brown Turkey is quite different to my Texas Everbearing. Fruit is large and neither "white" (light green) nor dark, but in between - a coppery kind of color. The fruit is more round and perky on the stem than either Danny's Delight or Brown Turkey. Last ripening (of the figs that I grow). Low-maintenance and cold-tolerant.

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Lippia alba
Bushy Lippia / Juanilama / Coseret / Pitiona / Bushy Matgrass / Poleo Limón

Verbenaceae family
Perennial in zones 9-11
Native to South America, the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, and South Texas

Invasive in the extreme southern US (no Shipping to CA, TX, LA, or FL); I recommend potting it regardless of your hardiness zone - whether to control its spread or to overwinter indoors.

This lantana-related, woody, tender subshrub has a rangy habit up to 6ft and light purple flowers. Its leaves are used in cooking, tisanes, and medicinally across its native range, as well as in Ethiopia, India, and elsewhere.*

This one hails from Puerto Rico and was gifted to me by my dear friend Jay. I remember him, his garden, his incredible spirit, and his generous nature - may some of those gifts touch you when you have some of this plant.

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Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis
Green Asparagus Bean / Green Noodle / Long Bean / Yard-Long Bean / Chinese Long Bean / Pea Bean / Long-Podded Cowpea / Snake Bean / Bodi / Bora

Fabaceae family
Annual
Native to Asia

Not actually a traditional bean, but a cowpea, this prolific vining plant makes light green pods that can reach 2.5 feet at maturity, also taking on some purple mottling. The immature pods can be used as green beans, or left to mature and dry and used as field peas/dry beans. Thrives in hot summer climates. Seeds.

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Vigna unguiculata subsp. sesquipedalis
Red Asparagus Bean / Green Noodle / Long Bean / Yard-Long Bean / Chinese Long Bean / Pea Bean / Long-Podded Cowpea / Snake Bean / Bodi / Bora

Fabaceae family
Annual
Native to Asia

Not actually a traditional bean, but a cowpea, this prolific vining plant makes light green pods that can reach 2.5 feet at maturity, also taking on some purple mottling. The immature pods can be used as green beans, or left to mature and dry and used as field peas/dry beans. Thrives in hot summer climates. Seeds.

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