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Now available: Food Forest Plants for Mediterranean Conditions 350+ Perennial Plants For Mediterranean and Drier Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens. [Paperback and eBook]

This is the third in Plants For A Future's series of plant guides for food forests tailored to specific climate zones. Following volumes on temperate and tropical ecosystems, this book focuses on species suited to Mediterranean conditions—regions with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters, often facing the added challenge of climate change.

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Mediterranean Food Forest Book
Index of Latin Names: O
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Achnatherum hymenoidesIndian Millet, Indian ricegrassPerennial0.6 7-10  LMHNM403
Anacamptis pyramidalisPyramidal OrchidPerennial0.3 5-9  LMHNDM21 
Atriplex truncataWedgescale SaltbushAnnual0.5 4-9  LMNDM304
Cephalostachyum pergracileTinwa BambooBamboo10.0 10-12 SLMHSNM303
Dactylorhiza incarnataMarsh OrchidBulb0.3 6-9  LMHSNM22 
Dactylorhiza maculataSpotted OrchidBulb0.6 4-8  LMHSNM22 
Fraxinus ornusManna Ash, Flowering ashTree9.0 5-6 SLMHNDM33 
Gymnadenia conopseaFragrant OrchidBulb0.3 6-9  LMHSNM22 
Ilex integraMochi TreeTree6.0 6-9  LMHSNM10 
Isodon inflexus Perennial0.6 -  LMHSNM10 
Macromeria viridifloraGiant Trumpets, Thurber's giant-trumpetsPerennial0.9 6-9  LMHNDM011
Matteuccia orientalis Fern0.6 4-8  LMHSM10 
Matteuccia struthiopterisOstrich FernFern1.0 2-7 MLMHSM212
Mirabilis nyctagineaWild Four O'clock Plant, Heartleaf four o'clockPerennial1.0 7-10  LMHSNM020
Ochlandra spp.Elephant grass, Clumping BambooBamboo6.0 10-12 FLMHSNM004
Ochroma pyramidaleBalsa WoodTree30.0 10-12 FLMHNM025
Ocimum basilicumSweet Basil, Common Basil, Thai Basil, Tropical BasilPerennial0.5 9-11 FLMNM432
Ocimum minimumBush BasilAnnual0.3 9-11  LMNM432
Ocimum tenuiflorumSacred BasilAnnual/Perennial1.0 10-12 FLMHNM442
Ocotea cymosaVarongyTree20.0 10-12 MLMFSNM204
Ocotea kenyensisTransvaal stinkwood, stinkhoutTree20.0 10-12 FLMHNM024
Ocotea porosaBrazilian-walnut, imbuiaTree18.0 10-12 SLMHNM004
Octomeles sumatranaIlimo TreeTree50.0 10-12 FMHNM224
Oemleria cerasiformisOso Berry, Indian plumShrub2.5 5-9  LMHSM21 
Oenanthe aquaticaWater Dropwort, Fineleaf waterdropwortPerennial1.5 0-0  LMHNWeWa02 
Oenanthe javanicaWater Dropwort, Java waterdropwort, Stolon waterdropwortPerennial1.0 5-11  LMHNWeWa323
Oenanthe peucidanifolia Perennial1.0 -  LMHNWe10 
Oenanthe pimpinelloidesMeadow Parsley, Corkyfruit waterdropwortPerennial1.0 7-10  LMHNMWe10 
Oenanthe sarmentosaWater Dropwort,Water parselyPerennial1.0 0-0  LMHNMWe311
Oenocarpus batauaPataua Palm. BatauaTree20.0 10-12 FMHNMWe323
Oenocarpus distichusPataua, Bacaba, White bacabaTree8.0 10-12 SLMHNM322
Oenothera albicaulisWhitest Evening PrimroseAnnual/Biennial0.3 4-8  LMNDM21 
Oenothera biennisEvening Primrose, Sun Drop, Common evening primroseBiennial1.2 4-8  LMNDM353
Oenothera brevipesGolden SuncupAnnual0.3 -  LMNDM20 
Oenothera elata hookeriHooker's Evening PrimroseBiennial/Perennial0.8 6-9  LMNDM212
Oenothera glaziovianaLarge-Flower Evening Primrose, Redsepal evening primroseBiennial1.5 3-7  LMNDM22 
Oenothera lamarckiana Biennial1.0 -  LMNDM10 
Oenothera odorata Perennial0.9 4-8  LMNDM102
Okoubaka aubrevilleiOkoubaka treeTree23.0 10-12 MLMHNDM042
Oldenlandia diffusaSnake-Needle GrassAnnual0.3 7-10  LMHSM03 
Olea europaeaOlive, African olive, European oliveTree10.0 8-10 SLMHNDM434
Olearia avicenniifoliaAkeakeShrub3.0 7-10  LMNM002
Olearia ilicifolia Shrub3.0 7-10  LMNM003
Olearia macrodonta Shrub6.0 7-10 MLMHNM003
Olearia paniculata Shrub6.0 8-11  LMHNM003
Olearia solandri Shrub4.0 8-11 SLMHNM003
Olearia traversii Shrub10.0 8-11 MLMHNM003
Olearia virgata Shrub3.5 6-9 FLMHNM003
Olearia x haastii Shrub2.5 7-10  LMHNM003
Olneya tesotaDesert ironwood, IronwoodTree9.0 0-0 MLMHSNM202
Ongokea goreBoleko NutTree30.0 10-12 MLMHSNDM224
Onobrychis viciifoliaSainfoinPerennial1.0 5-9  LMNM104
Onoclea sensibilisSensitive FernFern0.5 4-8 FLMHFSMWe222
Ononis repensRest Harrow, Common restharrowPerennial0.6 5-9  LMHNDM21 
Ononis spinosaSpiny Rest HarrowPerennial0.6 5-9  LMHNDM223
Onopordum acanthiumScotch Thistle, Scotch cottonthistleBiennial1.5 5-9 SLMHSNDM211
Onopordum illyricumCotton Thistle, Illyrian cottonthistleBiennial1.3 6-9  LMHSNM100
Onopordum macracanthumCotton thistleBiennial1.0 6-10 FLMHNDM201
Onosma bracteatum Perennial0.4 -  LMNDM021
Onosma echioidesOnosmaPerennial0.3 6-9  LMNDM011
Onosma frutescens Perennial0.3 7-10  LMNDM001
Onosma hispidum Perennial0.4 -  LMNDM11 
Ophioglossum reticulatumAdder's tongue fernFern0.2 10-12 SLMSNMWe421
Ophioglossum vulgatumAdder's Tongue, Southern adderstongueFern0.3 4-8  LMHNM12 
Ophiopogon japonicusSnake's Beard, Dwarf lilyturf, Mondo Grass, Monkey Grass, Dwarf LilyturfPerennial0.3 7-11 SLMSNMWeWa232
Ophrys apiferaBee OrchidPerennial0.5 6-9  LMHSNDM22 
Ophrys araneola Perennial0.5 6-9  LMHSNM22 
Ophrys bertolonii Perennial0.4 6-9  LMHSNM22 
Ophrys bombyliflora Perennial0.3 7-10  LMHSNM22 
Ophrys fuscaBrown Bee OrchidPerennial0.4 6-9  LMHSNM22 
Ophrys holosericaLate Spider OrchidPerennial0.6 5-9  LMHSNDM22 
Ophrys insectiferaFly OrchidPerennial0.5 5-9  LMHSNM22 
Ophrys iricolor Perennial0.3 7-10  LMHSNM22 
Ophrys luteaYellow Bee OrchidPerennial0.3 7-10  LMHSNM22 
Ophrys scolopaxWoodcock OrchidPerennial0.5 7-10  LMHSNM22 
Ophrys sphegodesEarly Spider OrchidPerennial0.5 5-9  LMHSNM22 
Ophrys tenthrediniferaSawfly OrchidPerennial0.5 7-10  LMHSNM22 
Ophrys vernixia Perennial0.3 7-10  LMHSNM22 
Oplopanax horridusDevil's ClubShrub2.0 4-8  LMHFSM221
Oplopanax japonicus Shrub3.0 5-9  LMHFSM21 
Opopanax chironiumOpopanaxPerennial1.8 5-9  LMHNDM012
Opuntia compressaEastern Prickly Pear, Prickly Pear CactusPerennial0.2 8-10 FLMND312
Opuntia dilleniiDillen prickly pear,Perennial1.0 10-12 MLMNDM303
Opuntia engelmanniiEngelmann’s Prickly PearShrub2.5 8-11 FLMHNDM322
Opuntia erinaceaMojave Prickly PearPerennial0.5 8-11  LMND202
Opuntia ficus-indicaPrickly Pear, Barbary figPerennial5.0 8-11 MLMND323
Opuntia fragilisPrickly Pear, Brittle pricklypearPerennial0.1 7-10  LMND212
Opuntia howeyi Perennial0.0 -  LMND202
Opuntia humifusaEastern Prickly PearShrub0.2 4-10 MLMNDM322
Opuntia imbricataTree CholaPerennial3.0 8-11  LMND202
Opuntia littoralisWestern Prickly PearPerennial0.6 -  LMND202
Opuntia macrorhizaTwist-Spine Prickly PearPerennial0.1 8-11  LMND202
Opuntia microdasysBunny Ears, Angel's-wingsPerennial0.6 7-10  LMND202
Opuntia phaeacanthaBastard Fig, Tulip pricklypearPerennial0.5 8-11  LMND212
Opuntia polyacanthaPlains Prickly Pear, El Paso pricklypear, Grizzlybear pricklypear, Navajo Bridge pricklypear, HairspPerennial0.2 3-7  LMND312
Opuntia ramosissimaBranched Pencil ChollaPerennial0.6 7-10  LMND302
Opuntia robustaWheel CactusShrub2.0 9-11 MLMNDM402
Opuntia tomentosaVelvet prickly pear, Woollyjoint PricklypearPerennial4.5 9-12 MLMNDM303
Orchis coriophoraBug OrchisBulb0.3 4-8  LMHNM22 
Orchis italica Bulb0.3 4-8  LMHNM22 
Orchis laxifloraMarsh OrchisBulb0.8 4-8  LMHNMWe22 
Orchis masculaEarly Purple OrchisBulb0.6 4-8  LMHSNDM22 
Orchis militarisMilitary OrchisBulb0.6 4-8  LMHSNM22 
Orchis morioGreen-Winged Orchid, Green-winged orchidBulb0.3 4-8  LMHNDM22 
Orchis ustulataDark-Winged OrchisBulb0.2 4-8  LMHNMWe22 
Oreocnide integrifoliaWild RheaTree12.0 10-12 SLMHFSMWe004
Oreomyrrhis hookeri Perennial0.1 -  LMNM10 
Origanum compactum Perennial0.3 -  LMHNDM10 
Origanum dictamnusDittany Of Crete, Hop MarjoramPerennial0.2 7-9 MLMHNDM21 
Origanum glandulosum Perennial0.0 -  LMHNDM10 
Origanum isthmicum Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNDM10 
Origanum majoranaSweet MarjoramPerennial0.6 6-9 FLMHSNDM333
Origanum onitesPot MarjoramPerennial0.3 7-10 FLMHSNDM312
Origanum syriacumBible HyssopPerennial1.0 7-10  LMHSNDM200
Origanum virens Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNDM10 
Origanum vulgareOregano, Pot MarjoramPerennial0.6 4-10 MLMHSNDM435
Origanum vulgare hirtumGreek OreganoPerennial0.6 4-8 MLMHSNDM433
Origanum x hybridum Perennial0.3 7-10  LMHSNDM10 
Origanum x majoricumHardy MarjoramPerennial0.6 6-9  LMHSNDM223
Orixa japonica Shrub3.0 5-9  LMHFSNDM212
Ornithogalum narbonenseStar Of BethlehemBulb0.4 6-9  LMHSNM10 
Ornithogalum pyrenaicumBath Asparagus, Pyrenees star of BethlehemBulb0.6 5-9  LMHSNM20 
Ornithogalum umbellatumStar Of Bethlehem, Dove's DungBulb0.3 6-9 FLMHSNM310
Ornithopus sativusSerradella, Common bird's-footAnnual/Perennial0.7 0-0  LMHSNM003
Orobanche ammophylaLie DangBiennial0.4 -  LMHFSNM22 
Orobanche californicaCalifornia Broomrape, Jepson's broomrapePerennial0.1 0-0  LMHFSNM21 
Orobanche cernuaNodding broomrapePerennial0.3 0-0  LMHFSNM10 
Orobanche crenataBean BroomrapeAnnual1.2 6-10 FLMHNDM022
Orobanche fasciculataCancer Root, Clustered broomrapePerennial1.0 0-0  LMHFSNM12 
Orobanche grayana Perennial0.0 -  LMHSNM11 
Orobanche ludovicianaBroomrape, Louisiana broomrapePerennial1.5 0-0  LMHFSNM110
Orobanche minorLesser Broomrape, HellrootPerennial0.5 0-0  LMHSNM000
Orobanche pinorumConifer broomrapePerennial0.0 0-0  LMHSNM11 
Orobanche tuberosaGround ConePerennial0.1 -  LMHFSNM11 
Orobanche unifloraOneflowered broomrapePerennial0.3 0-0  LMHSNM11 
Orogenia linearifoliaIndian Potato, Great Basin Indian potatoPerennial0.2 0-0  LMNM40 
Orontium aquaticumGolden ClubPerennial0.5 6-9  LMHNWeWa30 
Orostachys japonicaRock PineBiennial/Perennial0.1 -  LMSNM02 
Orthilia secundaSidebells WintergreenPerennial0.1 4-8  LMFSNM11 
Orthosiphon aristatusJava Tea, Cat's WhiskersPerennial1.0 9-12 FLMHFSNM040
Orychophragmus violaceus Annual/Biennial0.3 6-9  LMHNM10 
Oryza hybridsPerennial RicePerennial2.0 7-12 FLMHNMWeWa422
Oryza longistaminataPerennial wild ricePerennial1.5 10-12 FLMHNMWeWa202
Oryza sativaRice, Common RiceAnnual1.8 10-12 FLMHNMWeWa522
Oryzopsis asperifoliaMountain Rice, Roughleaf ricegrassPerennial0.5 0-0  LMHNM30 
Osbeckia chinensis Perennial0.5 8-11  LMHSNM02 
Osmanthus americana Tree15.0 -  LMHSNM102
Osmanthus decorus Shrub3.0 6-9  LMHSNDM003
Osmanthus delavayi Shrub3.5 6-9 SLMHSNDM003
Osmanthus fragransFragrant OliveShrub6.0 8-11  LMHSNM222
Osmanthus heterophyllusHolly Olive, Holly osmanthus, Chinese Holly, Holly Tea Olive, False HollyShrub4.0 6-9 SLMHSNM003
Osmanthus x burkwoodii Shrub3.0 5-9 SLMHSNM003
Osmorhiza aristata Perennial0.6 -  LMHSNM30 
Osmorhiza chilensis Perennial0.8 5-9  LMHSNM30 
Osmorhiza claytoniiWoolly Sweet-Cicely, Clayton's sweetrootPerennial1.0 5-9  LMHSNM311
Osmorhiza longistylisAniseroot, Longstyle sweetrootPerennial1.2 5-9  LMHSNM311
Osmorhiza obtusa Perennial1.0 -  LMHSNM30 
Osmorhiza occidentalisWestern Sweet-Cicely, Western sweetrootPerennial1.0 5-9  LMHSNM321
Osmunda asiatica  0.0 -  LMHSNM00 
Osmunda cinnamomeaCinnamon FernFern0.6 4-8 MLMHSNMWe21 
Osmunda claytonianaInterrupted FernFern0.5 3-7  LMHSNMWe21 
Osmunda japonicaZenmaiFern1.0 5-9  LMHSNMWe20 
Osmunda regalisRoyal Fern, Flowering FernFern2.0 4-9 MLMHSNMWe023
Osteomeles obtusifolia Shrub0.0 -  LMHNM10 
Osteomeles schwerinae Shrub2.0 7-10  LMHNDM10 
Osteomeles subrotunda Shrub2.0 7-10  LMHNDM10 
Ostrya carpinifoliaHop HornbeamTree15.0 5-9  LMHSNDM002
Ostrya virginianaIronwood, Hophornbeam, Hop Hornbeam American, Hop Hornbeam EasternTree15.0 3-9 SLMHSNM012
Oxalis acetosellaWood SorrelPerennial0.1 3-7 FLMHFSNM323
Oxalis adenophyllaSauer KleePerennial0.2 4-8  LMHSNM00 
Oxalis articulataPink SorrelPerennial0.2 7-10  LMNM30 
Oxalis barrelieriBarrelier's woodsorrelPerennial0.0 0-0  LMNDM20 
Oxalis bifida Bulb0.3 8-11  LMNDM20 
Oxalis corniculataYellow Sorrel, Creeping woodsorrelAnnual/Perennial0.1 4-8  LMHNDM221
Oxalis corymbosaLilac Oxalis, Pink woodsorrelPerennial0.2 7-10  LMHNDM20 
Oxalis deppeiIron Cross PlantBulb0.3 7-10  LMNM40 
Oxalis enneaphyllaScurvy GrassPerennial0.1 5-9  LMNDM20 
Oxalis europaea Annual/Perennial0.4 -  LMNDM20 
Oxalis exilisLeast Yellow Sorrel, Shady woodsorrelAnnual/Perennial0.1 4-8  LMHNDM22 
Oxalis frutescensShrubby woodsorrelPerennial0.0 0-0  LMNDM20 
Oxalis grandisGreat Yellow WoodsorrelAnnual/Perennial0.2 5-7 FLMHFSM211
Oxalis lasiandra Perennial0.3 8-11  LMSNM00 
Oxalis magellanica Perennial0.0 5-9  LMSNDM20 
Oxalis montanaMountain Wood SorrelPerennial0.1 0-0  LMHSM201
Oxalis oreganaRedwood SorrelPerennial0.2 6-9  LMHFSNM313
Oxalis pes-capraeBermuda ButtercupPerennial0.2 8-11  LMNDM20 
Oxalis strictaYellow Wood Sorrel, Common yellow oxalis, Common Yellow Wood Sorrel, OxalisAnnual0.3 0-0 FLMNDM211
Oxalis tetraphylla Perennial0.1 7-10  LMNDM303
Oxalis triangularisOxalisPerennial0.2 10-11 MLMSNDM30 
Oxalis tuberosaOcaPerennial0.5 6-9  LMNM50 
Oxalis violaceaViolet Wood SorrelBulb0.3 4-8  LMHSNDM31 
Oxandra lanceolataBlack lancewood, lancewood, haya prietaTree10.0 10-12 MLMHNM004
Oxandra laurifoliaYaya, lancewoodTree10.0 10-12 MLMHNM004
Oxydendrum arboreumSorrel Tree, SourwoodTree10.0 5-8 SLMSNM322
Oxyria digynaMountain Sorrel, Alpine mountainsorrelPerennial0.5 2-8  LMHSNM310
Oxytenanthera abyssynicaSavanah BambooBamboo12.0 10-12 FLMHNDM223
Oxytropis lambertiiCrazy Weed, Purple locoweedPerennial0.3 3-7  LMNDM200
Rauvolfia serpentinaRauwolfia, Ajmaline, Java devil-pepperShrub1.5 10-12 MLMHSNM040
Rhynchoryza subulataArroz bravoPerennial0.3 9-12 FLMHNMWe300
Senefeldera verticillataSenefelderaTree12.0 10-12 FLMHNM004
Solidago rigidaStiff Goldenrod, Flat Topped Goldenrod, Stiff GoldenrodPerennial1.2 3-9 FLMHSNM022
Swertia bimaculata Annual/Biennial0.6 6-9  LMHSNM10 
Thymus vulgarisCommon Thyme, Garden thyme, Wild ThymeShrub0.2 5-11 MLMNDM435
Trigonotis icumae Perennial0.2 -  LMHSNM10 
Uvularia sessilifoliaBellwort, Sessileleaf bellwortPerennial0.3 4-8 FLMFSM21 
Vaccinium erythrocarpumSouthern Mountain CranberryShrub1.5 5-9  LMSNM300
Vaccinium macrocarponAmerican Cranberry, CranberryShrub0.2 0-0 MLMSNMWe314
Vaccinium oxycoccosSmall CranberryShrub0.1 0-0 FLMSNMWe412
Vicia nipponica Perennial0.8 -  LMHSNM10 
Vicia venosa Perennial0.8 -  LMHSNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water. Rating: 1 = Minor 5 = Great.

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