Perennial vegetables are a great addition to any garden because they come back year after year, providing a steady supply of fresh produce with minimal effort. Here are 50 perennial vegetables to consider growing:
1. Asparagus
Asparagus is a popular perennial vegetable that can produce for 20 years or more once established.
2. Rhubarb
Rhubarb is known for its tart stalks, which are used in pies, sauces, and jams.
3. Jerusalem Artichoke
Also known as sunchokes, Jerusalem artichokes produce edible tubers that are great in soups and salads.
4. Horseradish
Horseradish roots are used to make a spicy condiment that pairs well with meats and vegetables.
5. Artichoke
Artichokes produce large flower buds that are harvested and eaten before they bloom.
6. Good King Henry
Good King Henry is an old-fashioned vegetable with edible leaves and shoots.
7. Sea Kale
Sea Kale is a coastal plant with edible leaves, shoots, and roots.
8. Sorrel
Sorrel is a leafy green with a tangy, lemony flavor, great for salads and soups.
9. Lovage
Lovage has a strong celery flavor and can be used in soups, stews, and salads.
10. Turkish Rocket
Turkish Rocket produces edible leaves and flower buds that taste similar to broccoli.
11. Skirret
Skirret produces sweet, white roots that can be roasted or boiled.
12. Perennial Leeks
Perennial leeks provide a steady supply of mild-flavored bulbs and greens.
13. Walking Onions
Walking onions produce small bulbs at the top of their stalks, which can be planted to grow new onions.
14. Ramps
Ramps are a wild leek with a strong garlic-onion flavor, prized for their early spring appearance.
15. Daylilies
Daylily flowers, buds, and tubers are all edible and can be used in various dishes.
16. Groundnut
Groundnut is a climbing vine that produces edible tubers and beans.
17. Crambe
Crambe, or perennial kale, is a hardy plant with edible leaves and flower buds.
18. Perennial Arugula
Perennial arugula has a spicy, peppery flavor and can be harvested year-round in mild climates.
19. Wild Garlic
Wild garlic produces edible bulbs, leaves, and flowers with a mild garlic flavor.
20. Wild Leek
Wild leek, or Allium tricoccum, is similar to ramps and has a strong garlic-onion flavor.
21. Perennial Spinach
Perennial spinach, or New Zealand spinach, is a heat-tolerant leafy green.
22. Caucasian Spinach
Caucasian spinach is a climbing perennial with edible leaves that taste like regular spinach.
23. Dandelion
Dandelion leaves, flowers, and roots are all edible and highly nutritious.
24. Stinging Nettle
Stinging nettle leaves are edible when cooked and are rich in vitamins and minerals.
25. Egyptian Walking Onion
Egyptian walking onions produce edible bulbs and greens, and can “walk” by planting their top sets.
26. Watercress
Watercress is a fast-growing aquatic plant with peppery leaves, great for salads and sandwiches.
27. Vietnamese Coriander
Vietnamese coriander has a strong, cilantro-like flavor and can be used in Southeast Asian dishes.
28. Miner’s Lettuce
Miner’s lettuce is a cool-season green with succulent leaves, perfect for salads.
29. Mitsuba
Mitsuba, or Japanese parsley, has a mild flavor and is used in soups and salads.
30. Lovage
Lovage has a strong celery flavor and can be used in soups, stews, and salads.
31. Salicornia
Salicornia, or sea beans, are salty, crunchy plants that grow in coastal areas.
32. Purslane
Purslane is a succulent plant with a tangy flavor, often used in salads and stir-fries.
33. Chayote
Chayote is a climbing vine that produces edible fruits, leaves, and shoots.
34. Chinese Artichoke
Chinese artichoke produces small, crunchy tubers that are great in salads and stir-fries.
35. Gobo
Gobo, or burdock root, is a long, slender root with a crunchy texture and earthy flavor.
36. Turkish Rocket
Turkish rocket produces edible leaves and flower buds that taste similar to broccoli.
37. Chicory
Chicory leaves and roots are edible and can be used in salads or roasted for a coffee substitute.
38. Yacon
Yacon is a tuberous root vegetable with a sweet, crunchy texture, often eaten raw or cooked.
39. Tree Collards
Tree collards are a perennial form of collard greens that can grow into a small tree.
40. Taro
Taro produces starchy tubers that are a staple food in many tropical regions.
41. Okinawan Spinach
Okinawan spinach is a perennial green with purple undersides, great for salads and stir-fries.
42. Arrowhead
Arrowhead produces edible tubers that can be boiled, roasted, or fried.
43. Lathyrus tuberosus
Lathyrus tuberosus, or earthnut pea, produces edible tubers and flowers.
44. Hablitzia
Hablitzia, or Caucasian spinach, is a climbing perennial with edible leaves.
45. Perennial Brassicas
Perennial brassicas include various kale and collard varieties that can live for several years.
46. Perennial Peppers
Perennial peppers are pepper plants that can live for several years in mild climates.
47. Lovage
Lovage has a strong celery flavor and can be used in soups, stews, and salads.
48. Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are perennial in tropical regions and produce edible tubers and leaves.
49. Oca
Oca is a tuberous vegetable with a tangy flavor, often grown in Andean regions.
50. Ground Cherry
Ground cherries produce small, sweet fruits that are great for snacking and desserts.
Incorporating perennial vegetables into your garden can save you time and effort while providing a diverse and continuous harvest. Consider adding some of these perennial vegetables to your garden for years of delicious and nutritious produce.
