Edible Plant Classifications
Click here for a printable version of this handout
Perennial Edibles
Herbs and Spices
Agastache (anise hyssop)
Anise
Bronze and green fennel (Foeniculum)
Catnip
Chives; garlic chives
Comfrey
Egyptian topping onions
Garlic (grown as an annual)
Horehound
Horseradish
Hyssop (Hyssopus)
Lavender
Lemon Balm
Lovage
Marjoram
Mint
Oregano
Rhubarb
Saffron crocus
Sage
Salad burnet
Southernwood
Sweet cicily
Sweet woodruff
Tansy
Tarragon
Thyme (most)
Winter savory
Wormwood
Perennial Vegetables and edible greens
Asparagus
French sorrel
Jerusalem artichokes (eat the tubers)
Rhubarb
Watercress
Perennial Fruit
*Most commonly grown fruit is perennial unless noted otherwise
Perennial Edible Flowers
Agastache- Anise hyssop
Chamomile
Chives; garlic chives
Daylilies (Hemerocallis)
Dianthus
Monarda-bee balm
Tender Perennial Edibles
Tender Perennial Herbs
Lemon verbena
Pineapple mint
Pineapple sage
Rosemary
Scented geraniums (leaves and flowers)
Tender Perennial Vegetables
Artichokes
Cardoon
Biennial Edibles
Biennial Herbs
Caraway
Parsley (treat as an annual)
Annual Edibles
Annual Herbs and spices
Basil
Borage
Breadseed poppies
Chervil
Cilantro (seed ground is coriander)
Dill
Garlic
Summer savory
Annual Vegetables
*Most commonly grown vegetable crops are annuals unless noted otherwise
Florence fennel (bulbing fennel)
Annual Edible Flowers
Borage
Calendula
Marigolds- Signet types, Lemon/tangerine gem
Nasturtium
Pansies and violas
Scarlet runner beans
Squash blossoms
These lists are offered to help you to understand how to grow edible vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruits in your Connecticut garden. The following definitions will aid you in understanding the crops you are growing.
Definitions:
Perennial- a perennial is a plant that lives through the winter and returns year after year.
Tender Perennial- This is a plant that is a perennial in a warmer climate but, because of our cold winters, is treated as an annual in Connecticut.
Biennial- a biennial grows leaves the first year and lives through the winter as a foliage plant. The second year it flowers, then sets seed, after which, the mother plant dies. The seed sprouts later that same growing season or the following spring and the cycle starts again. The trick with biennials is to learn to recognize the seedlings. They may come up in places where you don’t want them. Move them to where they belong when they are young. To assure a biennial is around every year, plant both seeds and a mature flowering plant or two the first year.
Annual- an annual completes its life cycle in one growing season. That means that you have to replant either seeds or plants each year. Some annuals self-sow. Many self-sow a second crop in the year they are planted (borage for example). Others drop seed and it comes up the following year (breadseed poppies and dill for example). Learn to recognize your annual plants in the seedling stage and you may find you will have lots of free plants!
In an effort to provide horticultural information, these educational documents are written by Nancy DuBrule-Clemente and are the property of Natureworks Horticultural Services, LLC. You are granted permission to print/photocopy this educational information free of charge as long as you clearly show that these are Natureworks documents.