Are you looking for plants that keep giving year after year? Perennials are plants that come back every season, unlike annuals that need to be replanted each year.
Growing edible perennials provides a steady supply of fresh fruits and vegetables, and once established, they require less work than replanting new crops annually.
Here are the best edible perennials that will ensure a bountiful harvest for the long haul.
1. Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa)
Strawberries are small, red fruits with a sweet flavor. The plant grows close to the ground and produces white or pink flowers that turn into berries.
Strawberries can provide fruit for several years. They spread by runners that grow out from the plant to create new plants and increase your harvest.
2. Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)
Raspberries are small, red, or black berries that grow on bush-like thorny canes and produces fruit in summer.
There are two types of raspberries: summer-bearing (produce fruit once a year) and everbearing (produce fruit twice a year). They spread through roots, and they can keep producing for a long time with proper care.
3. Garlic (Allium sativum)
Garlic is a bulbous plant used as a spice. It grows tall with long, flat leaves and a bulb underground.
Garlic is typically grown as an annual, but it can be considered a perennial in some areas where it survives winter. It is very easy to grow and can last for several years with proper care. Garlic is used in many dishes for its strong flavor and health benefits.
4. Tree Onion (Allium proliferum)
Tree onion, also known as Egyptian onion or walking onion, is a type of onion that grows in clusters. The main bulbs are underground, while the plant also grows green stems and small clusters of bulbs at the top.
Tree onions produce new bulbs at the top of the plant, which eventually fall to the ground and grow into new onions. This makes them easy to propagate and harvest.
Tree onions can be used in cooking much like regular onions. They are hardy and can continue to produce for many years with minimal care.
5. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
Asparagus is a vegetable that grows from a crown (a part of the root system). Once established, it produces tender green spears early in the spring.
Asparagus can live for 10-15 years or more. After planting, it usually takes a few years to start producing spears, but once it does, you can enjoy fresh asparagus each spring.
6. Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)
Rhubarb has large, leafy stalks that are often red or green. Only the stalks are edible, while the leaves are toxic.
Rhubarb is a hardy plant that can last for several years and is great for making pies and jams. It grows best in cooler climates and needs to be divided and replanted every few years to stay healthy and productive.
7. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)
Elderberry is a shrub that produces small, dark berries and clusters of white or cream flowers. The berries are used to make syrups and jams.
Elderberry bushes can live for many years and produce fruit annually that can be used in cooking and for medicinal purposes. The flowers are also used in teas and syrups.
The plant is hardy and can grow in various conditions, but it needs space to spread out.
8. Mulberry (Morus spp.)
Mulberry trees produce small, sweet berries that can be red, black, or white. The berries grow on long, hanging clusters and have a unique flavor.
Mulberry trees are hardy, produce fruit in summer, and are relatively low-maintenance. They are great for fresh eating, baking, or making jams. The tree also provides shade and can be a lovely addition to a garden.
9. Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
Also known as sunchoke, Jerusalem artichokes are tubers that grow underground. They have a nutty flavor and are often used as a root vegetable.
Jerusalem artichokes are perennials that are easy to grow and can be a good source of nutrients. The plant produces tall, sunflower-like blooms in late summer, and the tubers can be harvested in fall for soups, salads, and stir-fries.
10. Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)
Horseradish is a root vegetable known for its spicy flavor. The plant has large leaves and produces a long, white root that is used in cooking to add heat to sauces and dishes.
Horseradish is a hardy perennial that grows well in various soil conditions and is easy to cultivate. Once established, horseradish can spread and become quite vigorous, so it may need some management to keep it in check.
Choosing the right edible perennials can make a big difference in your garden. These plants not only save you time and effort but also give you delicious harvests season after season.
Don’t Miss These:
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.