100 Edible Landscape Plants
for the Florida Keys
Over the years we have successfully grown all of these plants in the Keys. Not to imply other edible plants are not successful here
but these are the ones we have consistently relied upon for food and decorative purposes. More may be added as we gain experience.
A more detailed information sheet will be linked to each plant as the website develops.
 Denotes easy to grow and/or food forest foundational plant.
Perennial Tropical Greens - all very nutritious and thrive in our climate
- Chaya Tree Spinach (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius)
- Colocasia (colocasia esculenta) aka elephant ear
- Florida Cranberry or Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) gonkura
- Hibiscus Edible (Abelmoschus manihot)
- Hoan Ngoc (Pseuderanthemum Palatiferum)
- Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatum)
- Katuk (Sauropus androgynus)
- Longevity spinach (Gynura Procumbens)
- Okinawa spinach (Gynura bicolor/crepioides)
- Moringa (Moringa oleifera)
- Mushroom plant (Runggia Klossii Acanth)
- Sissoo (Alternanthera sissoo) Brazilian spinach-perennial
- Surinam Spinach (Talinum paniculatum)- Jewels of opar
- Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) - edible roots and perennial leaves
- Tindora (Coccinia grandis) - vining plant, cucumber like fruit
Annuals - Common and Exotic Leafy Greens - usually grown in winter
- Amaranth/callalloo (Amaranthus) - all varieties, reseeds abundantly
- Arugula (Brassica eruca sativa)- all varieties
- Bok Choy (Brassica rapa var chinensis) all varieties
- Broccoli (brassica oleracea) many varieties
- Chard (Beta vulgaris) - all varieties
- Chinese Cabbage (Brassica napa var. pekinensis) especially Hilton
- Collard Greens (Brassica Oleracea) many varieties
- Kale (Brassica oleracea) especially Lacinato - tender perennial for 3-4 years
- Lago spinach (Celosia argentea spicata) celosia Tender perennial (2 years)
- Mizuna (Brassica rapa nipponosica) many varieties
- Molokhia Egyption Spinach (Corchorus olitorius)
- Mustard Greens (Brassica juncea) many varieties
- New Zealand Spinach (tetragonia tetragonoides) - winter summer seasons
- Perpetual Spinach (Beta vulgaris var cicla) aka Silver beet
- Tatsoi (brassica rapa - Narinosa) foundational salad green
- Tronchuda (Brassica oleracea v. tronchuda) portuguese Kale
- Vitamin Green (Brassica rapa narinosa)
- Yukina savoy (Brassica juncea)
- Lettuce mix - any loose leaf mix, very short season (dec-feb)
Herbs and Spices - annuals/perennials noted
- Basil - (Ocimum Basilicum) tender perennial (2-5 years) afternoon shade good in summer
- Basil -Tulsi, Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum) tender perennial sun ok
- Basil - Bell Pepper (O. Selloi) aka Benthe tender perennial sun okay, bright shade better
- Basil - Wild Basil (O. campechianum) FL native sun oka
- Chives - Common (Allium schoenoprasum) struggles a bit, appreciates shade in summer
- Chives - Garlic (Allium tuberosum) hardy perennial sun okay
- Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) short season Nov-Feb
- Cilantro - Vietnamese (Persicaria odorata)
- Culantro (Eryngium foetidum)“summer cilantro” easily reseeds itself
- Dill - all varieties in cooler season
- Galangal (z. Alpinia galanga) perennial
- Ginger (Zingiber officiale) perennial
- Ginger (Zingiber zerumbet) aka awapuhi/shampoo - perennial
- Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) Perennial
- Hoja Santa (Piper auritum) rootbeer plant. perennial
- Lemon grass (cymbopogon flexuosus or citratus) - perennial
- Mexican Tarragon (Tagetes lucida) - perennial
- Peruvian Marigold Haucatay (Tagetes minuta) – winter season
- Mint- all typical varieties.. tender Perennial
- Fish mint (Houttuynia cordata) perennial
- Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) flat leaf perennial
- Rosemary - all varieties hardy perennial
- Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) - all varieties, perennial
- Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) tender perennial
- Oregano - all varieties (Origanum) perennial
- Oregano - Cuban (Colius amboinicus or Plectranthus amboinicus) perennial
- Sage - all varieties tender perennial
- Scallions - many varieties grow all year, some shade in summer
- Society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea) grows all year
- Turmeric (Curcuma longa) - can be perennial bright shade/ a.m. sun only
Annual and Tender Perennial Fruiting plants – growing seasons noted
- Beans - many varieties both pole and bush - mostly winter season
- Cow Peas - many varieties - annuals all season but stellar for summer months
- Eggplant - many varieties- tender perennial (3-5 years)
- Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) - annual or tender perennial
Peas Snap or sweet - many varieties very short season
- Peas, Snow - many varieties winter season
- Pepper Hot - many varieties - annual or tender perennial
- Pepper Seasoning - many varieties - annual tender perennial
- Pepper Sweet - many varieties - annual or tender perennial
- Pigeon peas (cajanus cajan) - annual or tree like tender perennial
- Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) - tender perennial (2 years)
- False Roselle (Hibiscus acetosella) - tender perennial (5 years)
- Tomato - many varieties - winter season, smaller fruits easier to grow
Roots
- Carrots (Daucus carota) many varieties
- Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea)
- Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) - many varieties - annual for roots, perennial leaf production
- Turnips (Brassica rapa) especially Hakurei
Vining plants
- Cucumbers (cucumis sativus) Green Fingers most other varieties suffer in humidity
- Malabar Spinach (Basella alba) winter or summer season
- Tindora (Coccinia grandis) - aka Ivy gourd - hardy perennial w cucumber like fruit
- Butternut squash (Cucurbita moschata) mostly summer season
- Calabaza squash (Cucurbita moschata) mostly summer season
- Seminole pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) - mostly summer
Pollinator attractors – Edible Flowers
- Arabian Jasmin (Jasminum sambac) - aka mogra, perennial vine, edible
- Blue Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea)- perennial vine, edible
- Callendula (Calendula officinalis) - many varieties winter season , edible
- Celosia (Celosia argentea spicata) tender perennial both greens and flowers
- Cosmos decorative (Cosmos bipinnatus) - many varieties winter season
- Cosmos edible (Cosmos sulphureus) - many varieties winter & summer, reseeds
- Cuban Buttercup (Turneria ulmifolia) - Perennial bush
- Four O’clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) - Perenial
- Gomphrena (G. Globosa) winter season
- Marigolds (Tagetes patula) - many varieties winter or summer season, edible
- Mexican Tarragon (Tagetes lucida) perennial w some summer shade, edible
- Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) - all varieties winter season, will reseed edible
- Walking iris (Iridaceae Neomarica longifolia) - decorative perennial
- Vinca Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus) - naturalized perennial
- Zinnia (z elegans) - many colorful varieties winter season
Fruiting Trees
- Avocado - Florida varieties, Monroe etc.
- Banana - (Musa) many varieties
- Barbados Cherry (Malpighia glabra)
- Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis)
- Calamondum (Citrus microcarpa)
- Fig (brown turkey)
- Key Lime (Citrus aurantiifolia)
- Kumquat (citrus japonica) multiple varieties
- Makrut Lime (Citrus hystrix)
- Mango - many varieties
- Mulberry (morus nigra)
- Papaya - many varieties, look for non gmo seeds
- Pigeon Pea (cajanus cajan) - annual/perennial can become a small tree
- Pineapple - many varieties. Easy to grow. Needs little attention, but requires 2 yrs. to fruit
- Pitaya (Selenicereus undatusaka) aka Dragon fruit Vining habit
- Star Fruit (averrhoa carambola)
- Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora)
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