Plant Menu
This menu is a list of plants that can be grown in most temperate climates. While most have at least one edible part, some have several edible structures. A few plants are included mostly for their abilities to improve soils. Each listing includes the plant's scientific name, the seasons in which it can be grown, the major uses of the plant, and the ways in which it is most easily propagated.| Common Name | Scientific Name | Seasons | Uses | Propagation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa | Medicago sativa | fall, winter, spring | beneficials attractor, cover crop, green manure | seed |
| Amaranth | Amaranthus spp. | spring, summer, fall | compost crop, cut flower, grain, ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| American Basketflower | Centaurea americana | spring | beneficials attractor, ornamental | seed |
| Artichoke | Cynara scolymus | fall, winter, spring, summer | cut flower, ornamental, vegetable | cutting |
| Asparagus | Asparagus officinalis | spring, summer, fall | cut flower, ornamental, vegetable | start |
| Basil | Ocimum spp. | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractor, cut flower, herb, ornamental | seed |
| Beans, Common | Phaseolus vulgaris | spring, summer, fall | fruit, vegetable | seed |
| Beans, Lima | Phaseolus lunatus | spring, summer, fall | fruit | seed |
| Beans, Runner | Phaseolus coccineus | spring, summer, fall | fruit, ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Beans, Tepary | Phaseolus acutifolius | spring, summer, fall | fruit | seed |
| Beet | Beta vulgaris | spring, fall | beneficials attractor, ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Bitter Melon | Momordica charantia | spring, summer, fall | fruit, ornamental | seed |
| Black-Eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractor, cut flower, ornamental | seed |
| Broccoli | Brassica oleracea | fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | start |
| Brussels Sprouts | Brassica oleracea | fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | start |
| Buckwheat | Fagopyrum esculentum | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractor, cover crop, grain, green manure | seed |
| Burdock | Arctium lappa | spring, summer, fall | ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Butterfly Weed | Asclepias tuberosa | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractor, ornamental | seed, start |
| Bee Balm | Monarda spp. | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractor, ornamental | seed, start |
| Cabbage | Brassica oleracea | fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | seed, start |
| Calendula | Calendula officinalis | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractor, ornamental | seed, start |
| Canteloupe | Cucumis melo | spring, summer | fruit | seed |
| Capsicum (Hot and Sweet Peppers) | Capsicum spp. | spring, summer, fall | fruit, ornamental | seed, start |
| Cardoon | Cynara cardunculus | spring, fall | ornamental, vegetable | cutting, start |
| Carrot | Daucus carota | fall, winter, spring | vegetable | seed |
| Cauliflower | Brassica oleracea | fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | start |
| Celeriac | Apium graveolens Rapaceum Group | fall, winter, spring | ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Celery | Apium graveolens | fall, winter, spring | ornamental, vegetable | seed, start |
| Celtuce | Lactuca sativa var. asparagina, augustana, or angustata | fall, winter, spring | vegetable | seed, start |
| Chard | Beta vulgaris var. cicla | fall, winter, spring | ornamental, vegetable | seed, start |
| Chayote | Sechium edule | spring, summer, fall | fruit, ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Chervil | Anthriscus cerefolium | fall, winter, spring | ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Chives | Allium schoenoprasum | spring, summer, fall, winter | herb, ornamental | seed, start |
| Citrus | Citrus spp. | spring, summer, fall, winter | fruit, herb, ornamental | start |
| Clover | Trifolium spp. | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractor, cover crop, green manure | seed |
| Collard Greens | Brassica oleracea Acephala Group | fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | seed, start |
| Coneflower, Clasping | Rudbeckia amplexicaulis | spring, fall | cut flower, ornamental | seed |
| Coneflower, Purple | Echinacea purpurea | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractor, cut flower, ornamental | seed |
| Coriander (Cilantro) | Coriandrun sativum | spring, fall, winter | beneficials attractor, herb, ornamental | seed |
| Corn | Zea mays | spring, summer | ornamental, fruit, grain | seed |
| Cosmos | Cosmos spp. | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractor, cut flower, ornamental | seed |
| Cowpea | Vigna unguiculata ssp. | spring, summer, fall | cover crop, fruit, green manure, vegetable | seed |
| Cucumber | Cucumis sativus | spring, summer, fall | fruit | seed |
| Cumin | Cuminum cyminum | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractor, herb, ornamental | seed |
| Dill | Anethum graveolens | spring, fall | beneficials attractor, herb, ornamental | seed |
| Eggplant | Solanum melongena | spring, summer | fruit, ornamental | seed, start |
| Fava Beans | Vicia faba | fall, winter, spring | cover crop, fruit, green manure, vegetable | seed |
| Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare | fall, winter, spring, summer | beneficials attractor, herb, ornamental | seed |
| Garlic | Allium sativum | fall, winter, spring | herb, vegetable | clove |
| Goldenrod | Solidago spp. | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractor, ornamental | seed |
| Hairy Vetch | Vicia villosa | spring, fall, winter | cover crop, green manure, ornamental | seed |
| Huauzontle | Chenopodium berlandieri | spring, summer, fall | ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Jerusalem Artichoke | Helianthus tuberosus | spring, summer, fall | cut flower, ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Jicama | Pachyrhizus erosus | spring, summer, fall | ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Kale | Brassica oleracea Acephala Group | spring, fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | seed, start |
| Kohlrabi | Brassica oleracea Gongylodes Group | fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Lavender | Lavandula spp. | spring, summer, fall, winter | cut flower, herb, ornamental | start |
| Leek | Allium ampeloprasum var. porrum | fall, winter, spring | cut flower, herb, ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Lettuce | Lactuca sativa | spring, fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Mint | Mentha spp. | spring, summer, fall, winter | herb, ornamental | cutting, seed, start |
| Mexican Oregano | Lippia graveolens | spring, summer, fall, winter | herb, ornamental | start |
| Mustard Greens | Brassica juncea | spring, fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Nasturtium | Tropaeolum spp. | spring, fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | seed, start |
| Onion | Allium cepa | spring, fall, winter | herb, ornamental, vegetable | seed, start |
| Oregano | Origanum vulgare | spring, summer, fall, winter | herb, ornamental | cutting, seed, start |
| Okra | Abelmoschus esculentus | spring, summer, fall | fruit, ornamental | seed, start |
| Potato | Solanum tuberosum | spring, fall | ornamental, vegetable | tuber |
| Passion Flower | Passiflora spp. | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractors, fruit, ornamental | cutting, seed, start |
| Pea | Pisum sativum | spring, fall, winter | fruit, ornamental | seed |
| Prickly Pear | Opuntia spp. | spring, summer, fall, winter | fruit, ornamental, vegetable | cutting |
| Purslane | Portulaca spp. | spring, summer, fall | beneficials attractors, ornamental, vegetable | seed, start |
| Rapini | Brassica rapa Ruvo group | fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Rosemary | Rosmarinus officinalis | spring, summer, fall, winter | beneficials attractors, herb, ornamental | cutting, start |
| Radish | Raphanus sativus | spring, fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Rye | Secale cereale | spring, fall, winter | grain, ornamental | seed |
| Sage | Salvia spp. | spring, summer, fall, winter | cut flower, herb, ornamental | cutting, seed, start |
| Savory | Satureja spp. | spring, summer, fall, winter | herb, ornamental | seed, start |
| Sweet Bay | Laurus nobilis | spring, summer, fall, winter | herb, ornamental | start |
| Sweet Marjoram | Origanum majorana | spring, summer, fall, winter | herb, ornamental | cutting, seed, start |
| Squash | Cucurbita spp. | spring, summer, fall | fruit, ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Strawberry | Fragaria spp. | spring, fall, winter | fruit, ornamental | cutting, start |
| Shallot | Allium oschaninii | spring, fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | seed, start |
| Sweet Potatoes | Ipomoea batatas | spring, summer, fall | ornamental, vegetable | cutting |
| Sunflower | Helianthus annuus | spring, summer, fall | compost crop, cut flower, fruit, ornamental | seed |
| Soy Bean | Glycine max | spring, fall | cover crop, fruit, green manure | seed |
| Spinach | Spinacia oleracea | spring, fall, winter | vegetable, ornamental | seed, start |
| Sweet Alyssum | Lobularia maritima | spring, fall, winter | vegetable, ornamental | seed, start |
| Thyme | Thymus spp. | spring, summer, fall, winter | herb, ornamental | cutting, seed, start |
| Tarragon | Artemisia dracunculus | spring, summer, fall, winter | herb, ornamental | cutting |
| Tomatillo | Physalis philadelphica | spring, summer, fall | fruit, ornamental | seed, start |
| Tomato | Solanum lycopersicum | spring, summer, fall | fruit, ornamental | seed, start |
| Turnip | Brassica rapa var. rapa | fall, winter | ornamental, vegetable | seed |
| Winter Melon | Benincasa hispida | spring, summer, fall | fruit | seed |
| Wheat | Triticum spp. | spring, fall, winter | grain, ornamental | seed |
