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Large Perennials/Herbs 1-2m (3-6ft) for Temperate Food Forests

Rated 3, 4 or 5 out of 5 for edibility

Althaea officinalis

Marsh Mallow, Common marshmallow
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Althaea officinalis

Amorphophallus konjac

Devil's Tongue, Devil's Tongue, Snake Plant, Konjac, Konnyaku Potato, Voodoo Lily
Height H: 1.3m or 5ft
Hardiness Zones: 6 to 11
Light Shade, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Amorphophallus konjac

Amphicarpaea bracteata

Hog Peanut, American hogpeanut
Height H: 1.5m or 5ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Light Shade, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Amphicarpaea bracteata

Apios americana

Ground Nut
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Apios americana

Aralia cordata

Udo
Height H: 1.8m or 6ft
Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Light Shade, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Aralia cordata

Aralia racemosa

American Spikenard
Height H: 1.8m or 6ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Shade, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Aralia racemosa

Asclepias incarnata

Swamp Milkweed, Swamp Butterfly Weed, Marsh Milkweed
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry, moist or wet

 

Asclepias incarnata

Asparagus officinalis

Asparagus, Garden asparagus
Height H: 1.5m or 5ft
Hardiness Zones: 2 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Asparagus officinalis

Brassica oleracea

Wild Cabbage, Broccoli, Tronchuda cabbage, Brussels sprouts, Kohlrabi, Sprouting broccoli
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Brassica oleracea

Cichorium intybus

Chicory, Radicchio, Succory, Witloof
Height H: 1.5m or 5ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Light Sun
Moisture Moist

 

Cichorium intybus

Crambe cordifolia

Flowering sea kale
Height H: 2m or 7ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Crambe cordifolia

Cynara cardunculus

Cardoon
Height H: 2m or 7ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Cynara cardunculus

Epilobium angustifolium

Willow Herb
Height H: 2m or 7ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Epilobium angustifolium

Filipendula ulmaria

Meadowsweet, Queen of the meadow, Double Lady of the Meadow, European Meadowsweet
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist or wet

 

Filipendula ulmaria

Foeniculum vulgare

Fennel, Sweet fennel
Height H: 1.5m or 5ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Foeniculum vulgare

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Liquorice, Cultivated licorice
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Heracleum sphondylium

Cow Parsnip, Eltrot
Height H: 1.8m or 6ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade, Shade
Moisture Moist

 

Heracleum sphondylium

Ipomoea leptophylla

Bush Moon Flower
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 8 to 11
Light Sun
Moisture Moist

 

Ipomoea leptophylla

Lathyrus tuberosus

Earthnut Pea, Tuberous sweetpea
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Lathyrus tuberosus

Levisticum officinale

Lovage, Garden lovage
Height H: 1.8m or 6ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Levisticum officinale

Ligusticum canbyi

Osha
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 6
Light Shade, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Ligusticum canbyi

Lomatium dissectum

Fernleaf Biscuitroot, Carrotleaf biscuitroot
Height H: 1.4m or 5ft
Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Lomatium dissectum

Malva alcea

Vervain mallow, Hollyhock Mallow
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Malva alcea

Monarda fistulosa

Wild Bergamot, Mintleaf bergamot, Wild Bee-Balm, Lupine
Height H: 1.5m or 5ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 10
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Monarda fistulosa

Osmorhiza longistylis

Aniseroot, Longstyle sweetroot
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Osmorhiza longistylis

Perideridia gairdneri

Yampa, Gardner's yampah, Common yampah
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 0 to 0
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry, moist or wet

 

Perideridia gairdneri

Phytolacca americana

Pokeweed, American pokeweed, Garnet, Pigeon Berry, Poke
Height H: 2m or 7ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Phytolacca americana

Rheum nobile

Sikkim Rhubarb
Height H: 1.5m or 5ft
Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Rheum nobile

Rheum palmatum tanguticum

Da Huang
Height H: 2m or 7ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Rheum palmatum tanguticum

Rheum x cultorum

Rhubarb
Height H: 1.5m or 5ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Rheum x cultorum

Rumex alpinus

Alpine Dock, Munk's rhubarb
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Rumex alpinus

Rumex patientia

Herb Patience
Height H: 1.5m or 5ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 10
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Rumex patientia

Symphytum officinale

Comfrey, Common comfrey
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Symphytum officinale

Symphytum uplandicum

Comfrey
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Symphytum uplandicum

Tropaeolum tuberosum

Anu
Height H: 2m or 7ft
Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Light Sun
Moisture Moist

 

Tropaeolum tuberosum

Urtica dioica

Stinging Nettle, California nettle
Height H: 1.2m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Urtica dioica

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

 

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