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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
3 4 3

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
3 2 1

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
5 1 2

Agastache rugosa

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

 

Agastache rugosa
4 3 0

Armoracia rusticana

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

 

Armoracia rusticana
3 3 2

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
4 2 2

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
3 2 3

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
4 0 2

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
3 2 3 Nitrogen Fixer Nitrogen Fixer

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
3 1 2

Bunias orientalis

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

 

Bunias orientalis
4 0 0

Bunium bulbocastanum

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

 

Bunium bulbocastanum
4 1 0

Calamintha nepeta

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

 

Calamintha nepeta
3 2 2

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
4 0 0

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
4 2 1

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
4 0 2

Crambe tatarica

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

 

Crambe tatarica
3 0 2

Cryptotaenia canadensis

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

 

Cryptotaenia canadensis
3 0 0

Cryptotaenia japonica

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

 

Cryptotaenia japonica
4 1 0

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
3 0 0

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
4 0 0

Glycyrrhiza echinata

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

 

Glycyrrhiza echinata
4 3 3 Nitrogen Fixer Nitrogen Fixer

Glycyrrhiza lepidota

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

 

Glycyrrhiza lepidota
4 3 2 Nitrogen Fixer Nitrogen Fixer

Glycyrrhiza uralensis

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

 

Glycyrrhiza uralensis
3 4 2 Nitrogen Fixer Nitrogen Fixer

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
4 1 2

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
4 1 2

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
5 2 2

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
4 1 2

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
4 2 2

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
4 1 2

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
5 1 2

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
4 3 2

Hydrophyllum virginianum

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

 

Hydrophyllum virginianum
3 1 0

Lactuca perennis

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

 

Lactuca perennis
3 2 0

Laportea canadensis

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

 

Laportea canadensis
3 1 2

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
3 2 2

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
4 2 2

Lupinus perennis

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

 

Lupinus perennis
3 1 2 Nitrogen Fixer Nitrogen Fixer

Lupinus perennis

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

 

Lupinus perennis
3 1 2 Nitrogen Fixer Nitrogen Fixer

Malva moschata

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

 

Malva moschata
5 2 2

Medicago sativa

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

 

Medicago sativa
4 3 4 Nitrogen Fixer Nitrogen Fixer

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
3 5 3

Mentha aquatica

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

 

Mentha aquatica
3 3 3

Mentha spicata

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

 

Mentha spicata
4 3 3

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
4 2 3

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
3 2 2

Myrrhis odorata

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

 

Myrrhis odorata
4 3 2

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
4 3 5

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
4 3 3

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
3 1 1

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
3 2 1

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
3 1 0

Polymnia edulis

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

 

Polymnia edulis
4 0 0

Rumex acetosa

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

 

Rumex acetosa
5 3 3

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
4 1 2

Sanguisorba minor

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

 

Sanguisorba minor
4 2 3

Scorzonera hispanica

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

 

Scorzonera hispanica
4 0 1

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
4 0 0

Smilacina racemosa

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

 

Smilacina racemosa
4 2 2

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
3 2 1

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
4 2 1

Trifolium pratense

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

 

Trifolium pratense
3 3 3 Nitrogen Fixer Nitrogen Fixer

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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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