We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

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

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

 

© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.