Perennial Vegetable List

Suitable for MILD MEDITERRANEAN climate

This information was initially copied from http://www.perennialsolutions.org/a-global-inventory-of-perennial-vegetables and will be updated with NZ specific information and my own experiences.

Latin NameCommon NameOriginFormEdible PartsSun & ShadeMoistureNotes
Abelmoschus esculentus perennial okra Africa shrub pods, seeds sun dry to mesic  
Acacia holosericea, A. murrayana, A victoriae edible seed acacias Australia* tree dry beans sun dry spiny
Agave parreyi, A. chrysantha, A. deserti, A. utahensis, A. palmeri hardy agaves Western North America succulent hearts sun dry to mesic spiny
Agave salmiana, A. tequilana tropical agaves Mesoamerica succulent hearts sun dry to mesic spiny
Allium ampeloprasum perennial leek Eurasia herb whole plants sun mesic  
Allium cepa aggregatum multiplier onion Eurasia herb bulbs sun mesic  
Allium cepa proliferum walking onion Eurasia herb scallions sun mesic  
Allium fistulosum Welsh onion Eurasia herb scallions sun mesic  
Allium tuberosum garlic chives Asia herb greens, flowerbuds sun to part dry to mesic  
Apium prostratum filiforme wild celery Australia herb stalks sun wet to mesic  
Aponogeton distachios water hawthorn Africa** herb flowerbuds, greens sun emergent floating aquatic  
Aralia cordata udo Asia giant herb shoots part shade mesic  
Asparagus officinalis asparagus Eurasia herb shoots sun mesic Familiar, easy to grow.
Asphodeline lutea yellow asphodel Eurasia herb tubers sun mesic  
Atriplex halimus saltbush Mediterranean, North Africa shrub greens sun dry to mesic  
Berula erecta water parsnip North America, Eurasia** herb greens sun wet  
Beta vulgaris maritima sea beet Eurasia* herb greens sun mesic  
Brassica napus "Western Front" kale Eurasia herb greens sun mesic  
Brassica oleracea wild cabbage Eurasia herb greens sun mesic  
Brassica oleracea "Colocha" Eurasia herb greens sun mesic  
Brassica oleracea acephala "Tree Collards" Eurasia shrub greens sun mesic  
Brassica oleracea alboglabra Gai Lon Eurasia herb greens, broccolis sun mesic  
Brassica oleracea botrytis "9 Star" perennial broccoli Eurasia herb greens, broccolis sun mesic  
Brassica oleracea ramosa branching bush kales, "Dorbentons" kale Eurasia shrub greens sun mesic  
Bunias orientalis Turkish rocket Eurasia* herb greens, broccolis sun to part dry to mesic  
Camassia cusickii camass Western North America herb bulbs sun wet to mesic must be cooked
Camassia leichtlinnii camass Western North America herb bulbs sun wet to mesic must be cooked
Camassia quamash camass Western North America herb bulbs sun wet to mesic must be cooked
Canna edulis achira, edible canna Andes giant herb tubers, shoots sun to part wet to mesic  
Carica pentaloba babaco Andes tree fruit sun mesic Grown under cover. Rapid grower, quick to fruit
Cedrella sinensis fragrant spring tree Asia tree greens sun mesic  
Centranthus ruber red valerian Eurasia herb greens sun to part dry to mesic  
Chenopodium bonus-henricus good King Henry Eurasia herb greens, shoots, broccolis sun to part mesic  
Cichorium intybus chicory Eurasia* herb greens sun to part mesic Establishes from hand broadcast seed
Cnidoscolus chayamansa chaya Mesoamerica shrub greens sun dry to mesic cyanide: must cook
Colocasia esculenta taro New Guinea, Asia herb tubers, greens sun to part wet to mesic must be cooked
Crambe cordifolia colewort Eurasia herb greens, broccolis sun dry to mesic  
Crambe maritima sea kale Eurasia herb greens, broccolis, roots sun dry to mesic  
Crotolaria longirostrata chipilin Mesoamerica* shrub greens sun mesic must be cooked
Cucurbita ficifolia figleaf gourd, chilacayote Mesoamerica vine fruit, seeds sun mesic  
Cylindropuntia acanthocarpa cholla Western North America cactus flowerbuds sun dry to mesic extremely spiny
Cynara cardunculus cardoon Eurasia* herb leafstalks sun dry to mesic  
Cynara scolymus globe artichoke Eurasia herb flowerbuds sun dry to mesic Grows well in Canterbury
Cyperus esculentus sativus chufa Africa, worldwide grasslike tubers sun wet to mesic sterile strain of global weed
Dioscorea japonica jinenjo Asia vine tubers sun mesic must be cooked
Dioscorea opposita Chinese yam Asia* vine tubers sun mesic must be cooked
Dioscorea trifida cush cush yam Amazonia vine tubers sun mesic must be cooked
Diplotaxis muralis, D. tenuifolia sylvetta arugula Mediterranean* shrub, herb greens sun to part dry to mesic  
Dolichos lablab lablab bean Africa vine beans, pods, flowers, greens, tubers sun dry to mesic  
Eleocharis dulcis water chestnut Asia** grasslike corms sun shallow emergent aquatic to wet  
Ensete ventricosum enset Africa giant herb starchy trunk, tuber sun mesic  
Hablitzia tamnoides Caucasian spinach Eurasia vine greens, shoots part shade dry to mesic  
Helianthus maximiliani Maximilan sunflower North America giant herb shoots, seeds sun dry to mesic  
Helianthus tuberosus sunchoke Eastern North America giant herb tubers sun mesic Enjoyed by pigs.
Hemerocallis spp. daylily Asia herb flowerbuds, flowers sun to part mesic  
Hibiscus acetosella cranberry hibiscus Africa shrub greens sun mesic  
Ipomoea batatas sweet potato, boniato Amazonia herb tubers, greens sun to part mesic  
Levisticum officinale lovage Eurasia herb greens, shoots, leafstalks sun to part mesic  
Lycium chinense leaf goji Asia shrub greens, fruits sun to part mesic spiny
Malva moschata gumbo leaf mallow Eurasia herb greens sun to part mesic  
Marsdenia australis bush banana, Austral doubah Australia* vine pods, tubers, greens sun dry to mesic  
Moringa oleifera moringa Africa dieback tree greens, pods, bark, tubers, seeds sun dry to mesic  
Moringa stenopetala African moringa Africa dieback tree greens, pods sun dry to mesic  
Morus alba mulberry Asia* tree greens, fruit sun to part dry to mesic must be cooked
Nasturtium officinale watercress Eurasia** giant herb leaves sun emergent floating aquatic to wet  
Nelumbo lutea American lotus North America** giant herb tubers, seeds sun deep emergent aquatic  
Nelumbo nucifera Chinese lotus Eurasia** giant herb tubers, seeds sun deep emergent aquatic  
Oenanthe javanica water celery New Guinea, Asia** herb greens sun to part emergent floating aquatic to wet  
Opuntia ficus-indica, O. robusta, O. streptacantha nopale cactus, tuna Mesoamerica* cactus pads, fruit sun dry to mesic spiny
Oxalis tuberosa oca Andes herb tubers sun mesic Susceptible to early and late frosts
Oxyria digyna mountain sorrel Eurasia, North America herb greens sun to part mesic  
Perideridia gairdnerii yampah North America herb tubers sun wet to mesic  
Petasites japonicus fuki Asia* giant herb leafstalks part to shade wet to mesic  
Phaseolus coccineus runner bean Mesoamerica vine beans, pods sun mesic  
Phaseolus lunatus lima bean Mesoamerica vine beans sun dry to mesic  
Phaseolus polysanthus cache bean Mesoamerica vine beans sun mesic  
Phyllostachys spp. running bamboo Asia* bamboo shoots sun to part mesic  
Physalis peruviana goldenberry Andes herb fruits sun mesic  
Physalis pruinosa ground cherry North America herb fruits sun mesic  
Piper auritum root beer leaf, hoja santa Mesoamerica* shrub greens, leafstalks sun to part mesic  
Plectranthus esculentus Livingstone potato Africa herb tubers sun dry to mesic  
Psophocarpus tetragonobolus "Day Neutral" winged bean New Guinea, Asia vine beans, tubers, flowers, greens, pods sun mesic  
Rheum australe Himalayan rhubarb Eurasia herb leafstalks sun mesic leaves and roots toxic
Rheum palmatum turkey rhubarb Eurasia herb leafstalks sun mesic leaves and roots toxic
Rheum x cultorum rhubarb Eurasia herb leafstalks sun mesic leaves and roots toxic. Familiar, easy to grow.
Rumex acetosa French sorrel Eurasia herb greens sun to part mesic  
Rumex acetosella sheep sorrel Eurasia herb greens sun to part mesic  
Rumex scutatus buckler-leaf sorrel Eurasia herb greens sun to part mesic  
Scorzonera hispanica scorzonera Eurasia herb leaves, roots, broccolis sun mesic  
Sium sisarum skirret Asia herb tubers sun to part wet to mesic  
Smallianthus sonchifolia yacon Andes herb tubers sun mesic  
Solanum muricatum pepino melon Andes herb fruits sun mesic  
Solanum tuberosum potato Andes herb tubers sun mesic must be cooked
Solonostemon rotundifolius hausa potato Africa herb tubers sun mesic  
Stachys sieboldii Chinese artichoke, crosnes Asia herb tubers sun wet to mesic  
Taraxacum officinale dandelion Eurasia herb greens sun mesic  Flowers loved by bees and geese
Tetragonia tetragonioides New Zealand spinach Australia herb greens sun dry to mesic  
Tilia spp. linden, lime, basswood Eurasia, North America tree greens sun to shade mesic  
Tropaeolum tuberosum "Ken Aslett" mashua Andes vine tubers, greens sun mesic  
Tropaeolum tuberosum mashua Andes vine tubers, greens sun mesic  
Typha spp. cattail Worldwide** grasslike shoots, root shoots, root starch, flowerbuds, pollen sun shallow emergent aquatic to wet  
Ullucus tuberosus ulluco Andes vine tuber, greens sun mesic  
Urtica dioica stinging nettle Eurasia, North America herb greens sun to part mesic stings
Yucca guatemalensis izote Mesoamerica succulent flowerbuds sun dry to mesic spiny


Region of Origin

Note that this is a global inventory of perennial vegetables. Always start with species native to your region and build out from there. Some of these species are, or could become, serious weeds outside of their native range. A single asterisk (*) in the “Origin” column indicates a terrestrial species that has or could naturalize aggressively. A double asterisk (**) indicates aquatic species, which are particularly likely to naturalize and should be grown with caution outside their native range. Please don’t have a heart attack about seeing air potato for example, remember it’s a global list, and it is native from Africa through Australia. You don’t have to grow it just because it is listed in your climate zone.

Form

Describes the form of the plant, from tree to cactus to herb etc. There’s a lot more than herbaceous perennials out there!

Edible Parts

Describes the edible portion used as a vegetable, as well as other edible uses. Note that most of these vegetables should be cooked. The notes indicate some species noted for toxicity, which absolutely must be cooked before eating.

Sun and Shade

Indicates light preferences. One of the great things about perennial vegetables is that there are so many for shade

Moisture

Preferred moisture including wet, mesic (medium), and dry. Also includes aquatic plant niches, including emergent aquatics (roots under water but leaves emerging above the water surface, from deep or shallow water), emergent floaters (similar but leaves floating at the water surface and not extending above it), floating aquatics (floating at the surface but not rooted into soil below), and submerged aquatics (completely underwater).

Notes

This column has information on nuisances like spines and stinging, as well as toxicity or other concerns.