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Medium Perennials/Herbs 0.5-1m (18-36in) for Temperate Food Forests

Rated 3, 4 or 5 out of 5 for edibility

Achillea millefolium

Yarrow, Boreal yarrow, California yarrow, Giant yarrow, Coast yarrow, Western yarrow, Pacific yarrow
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Achillea millefolium

Aegopodium podagraria

Ground Elder, Bishop's goutweed, Goutweed, Ground Elder, Bishop's Weed
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade, Shade
Moisture Moist

 

Aegopodium podagraria

Agastache foeniculum

Anise Hyssop, Blue giant hyssop
Height H: 0.9m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Agastache foeniculum

Agastache rugosa

Korean Mint
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Agastache rugosa

Armoracia rusticana

Horseradish, Red Cole
Height H: 0.7m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Armoracia rusticana

Artemisia dracunculus

Tarragon, French Tarragon
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Artemisia dracunculus

Asclepias syriaca

Common Milkweed, Silkweed, Milkweed
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Asclepias syriaca

Asphodeline lutea

King's Spear, Yellow Asphodel, Jacob's Rod
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Asphodeline lutea

Astragalus canadensis

Canadian Milkvetch, Shorttooth Canadian milkvetch, Morton's Canadian milkvetch
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Light Sun
Moisture Dry

 

Astragalus canadensis

Blephilia ciliata

Downy wood mint
Height H: 0.7m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 7
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Blephilia ciliata

Bunias orientalis

Turkish Rocket, Turkish wartycabbage
Height H: 0.9m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
Light Sun
Moisture Moist

 

Bunias orientalis

Bunium bulbocastanum

Pig Nut, Earth-nut
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun
Moisture Moist

 

Bunium bulbocastanum

Calamintha nepeta

Lesser Calamint
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Calamintha nepeta

Campanula glomerata

Clustered Bellflower, Dane's blood, Clustered Bellflower
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Campanula glomerata

Colocasia esculenta

Taro, Elephant Ears Taro, Dasheen, Eddo
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist or wet

 

Colocasia esculenta

Crambe maritima

Sea Kale
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Crambe maritima

Crambe tatarica

Tartar Bread Plant
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Crambe tatarica

Cryptotaenia canadensis

Honewort, Canadian honewort
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Cryptotaenia canadensis

Cryptotaenia japonica

Mitsuba, Japanese honewort
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade, Shade
Moisture Moist

 

Cryptotaenia japonica

Diplotaxis muralis

Wall Rocket, Annual wallrocket
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Diplotaxis muralis

Diplotaxis tenuifolia

Perennial Wall Rocket
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Diplotaxis tenuifolia

Glycyrrhiza echinata

Wild Liquorice, Chinese licorice
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Glycyrrhiza echinata

Glycyrrhiza lepidota

American Liquorice
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Glycyrrhiza lepidota

Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Gan Cao
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Glycyrrhiza uralensis

Hemerocallis aurantiaca

Day Lily
Height H: 0.8m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Hemerocallis aurantiaca

Hemerocallis citrina

Citron daylily
Height H: 0.8m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Hemerocallis citrina

Hemerocallis fulva

Common Day Lily, Orange daylily, Tawny Daylily, Double Daylily
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Hemerocallis fulva

Hemerocallis fulva longituba

Day Lily
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Hemerocallis fulva longituba

Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus

Yellow Day Lily
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Hemerocallis lilioasphodelus

Hemerocallis littorea

Coastal Day Lily
Height H: 0.9m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Hemerocallis littorea

Hemerocallis middendorffii

Amur daylily, Middendorf, Daylily
Height H: 0.9m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Hemerocallis middendorffii

Houttuynia cordata

Tsi, Chameleon, Rainbow Plant, Chameleon Plant
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 6 to 11
Light Shade, Semi-shade
Moisture All

 

Houttuynia cordata

Hydrophyllum virginianum

Virginia Waterleaf, Eastern waterleaf
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Hydrophyllum virginianum

Lactuca perennis

Perennial Lettuce
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Lactuca perennis

Laportea canadensis

Canadian Wood Nettle
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Laportea canadensis

Ligusticum scoticum

Scottish Lovage, Scottish licorice-root, Hulten's licorice-root
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Ligusticum scoticum

Lomatium nudicaule

Pestle Parsnip, Barestem biscuitroot
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 6 to 8
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Lomatium nudicaule

Lupinus perennis

Sundial Lupine
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Lupinus perennis

Lupinus perennis

Sundial Lupine
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Lupinus perennis

Malva moschata

Musk Mallow
Height H: 0.8m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Malva moschata

Medicago sativa

Alfalfa, Yellow alfalfa
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Medicago sativa

Melissa officinalis

Lemon Balm, Common balm, Bee Balm, Sweet Balm, Lemon Balm
Height H: 0.7m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Melissa officinalis

Mentha aquatica

Water Mint
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture All

 

Mentha aquatica

Mentha spicata

Spearmint
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Mentha spicata

Mentha x villosa alopecuroides

Apple Mint, Bowles' Mint
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Mentha x villosa alopecuroides

Monarda didyma

Bergamot, Scarlet beebalm, Horsemint, Oswego Tea, Bee Balm
Height H: 0.9m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 10
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Monarda didyma

Myrrhis odorata

Sweet Cicely, Anise
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Myrrhis odorata

Origanum vulgare

Oregano, Pot Marjoram
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 10
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Origanum vulgare

Origanum vulgare hirtum

Greek Oregano
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Origanum vulgare hirtum

Osmorhiza claytonii

Woolly Sweet-Cicely, Clayton's sweetroot
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Osmorhiza claytonii

Petasites japonicus

Sweet Coltsfoot, Japanese sweet coltsfoot, Butterbur
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade, Shade
Moisture Moist or wet

 

Petasites japonicus

Physalis heterophylla

Clammy Ground Cherry, Rowell's groundcherry
Height H: 0.9m or 3ft
Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Dry to Moist

 

Physalis heterophylla

Polymnia edulis

Yacon Strawberry
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 7 to 10
Light Sun
Moisture Moist

 

Polymnia edulis

Rumex acetosa

Sorrel, Garden sorrel
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Rumex acetosa

Rumex scutatus

Buckler-Leaved Sorrel, French sorrel
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Rumex scutatus

Sanguisorba minor

Salad Burnet, Small burnet
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun
Moisture Moist

 

Sanguisorba minor

Scorzonera hispanica

Scorzonera
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Scorzonera hispanica

Sium sisarum

Skirret, Suikerwortel (Netherlands), Crummock (Scotland), Zuckewurzel (Germany)
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Sium sisarum

Smilacina racemosa

False Spikenard
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 2 to 8
Light Shade, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Smilacina racemosa

Stachys palustris

Marsh Woundwort, Marsh hedgenettle
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Sun, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist or wet

 

Stachys palustris

Streptopus amplexifolius

Wild Cucumber, Claspleaf twistedstalk, Tubercle twistedstalk
Height H: 1m or 4ft
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Light Shade, Semi-shade
Moisture Moist

 

Streptopus amplexifolius

Trifolium pratense

Red Clover
Height H: 0.6m or 2ft
Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Light Sun
Moisture Moist

 

Trifolium pratense

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.

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

 

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