Overview Description Rosemary is an aromatic, woody-stemmed evergreen shrub that has been cultivated for centuries for both culinary and ornamental purposes. It is a perennial plant, typically growing between 60–150 cm (24–59 inches) in height, though in ideal conditions it may reach up to 2 […]
Overview Description Pak Choi is a non-heading type of Chinese cabbage and a member of the mustard family. It is botanically a biennial plant but is almost always cultivated as an annual for its edible leaves and stalks. The plant typically forms a compact basal […]
Overview Description Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a low-growing, woody-based, perennial herb commonly cultivated as a culinary and ornamental plant. It forms dense, spreading mats or small subshrubs that typically reach 15–30 cm (6–12 in) in height and 20–40 cm (8–16 in) in spread. The plant […]
Overview Description Potatoes are cool-season, herbaceous perennials grown as annuals for their underground tubers, which develop from swollen stolons. Each plant typically reaches 60 to 90 centimeters (2 to 3 feet) in height and produces a bushy canopy of compound leaves, with each leaf composed […]
Overview Description Florence fennel (Foeniculum vulgare var. azoricum) is a cool- to warm-season herbaceous vegetable cultivated primarily for its thickened, bulb-like base formed by overlapping, swollen leaf stalks. This basal enlargement sits just above or slightly below soil level and is prized for its crisp […]
Overview Description Chicory is a perennial plant often grown as an annual or biennial for its leaves and roots. Its deep taproot can reach 30–50 cm (12–20 in) into the soil, enabling drought resilience and soil penetration. The erect, branched stems typically rise 60–120 cm (2–4 ft) in height […]
Overview Description Ginger is a perennial herb grown primarily for its aromatic, spicy rhizomes (underground stems). In tropical climates, it can grow year-round; in cooler regions, it’s often cultivated as an annual or grown indoors. The plant typically reaches about 60–120 cm (2–4 ft) in […]
Overview Description Choko (chayote) is a warm-season, perennial vine in the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), grown for its pale green, pear‑shaped fruits with mild, crisp flesh. The plant climbs vigorously using tendrils, with annual stems reaching between 6–12 m (20–40 ft) long when supported. The leaves are broadly […]
Overview Description Chervil is a delicate annual (occasionally biennial in mild climates) herb grown primarily for its finely divided, fern‑like leaves that display a mild, sweet anise‑like flavor. The plant typically reaches 30–60 cm (12–24 in) in height, featuring slender, branching stems. Leaves are pale to medium […]
Overview Description Cowpeas are warm-season annual legumes grown primarily for their edible seeds, young pods, and occasionally leaves as a vegetable. Depending on the variety, they can display a wide variety of growth habits—erect, bushy, vining, or prostrate—with vining types reaching up to 1.8 m (6 ft) […]
Overview Description Lemon balm, also known as Bee Balm or Melissa, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the Lamiaceae (mint) family, valued for its foliage that emits a strong lemon-like fragrance and flavor alongside mild medicinal properties. It grows with a bushy, upright habit, producing […]
Overview Description Jerusalem artichokes—also known as “sunchokes”—are vigorous perennial plants cultivated for their edible underground tubers. A member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae), the plant produces tall, erect stems that typically grow 1.5–3 m (5–10 ft) high. Stems are often hairy and may branch near […]
Overview Description French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. sativa) is a perennial herb valued for its distinctive anise-like flavor and narrow, lance-shaped leaves. Plants typically attain a height of 60–90 cm (2–3 ft), forming upright clumps with multiple woody stems at the base. The leaves are […]
Overview Description Globe artichokes are tall, perennial plants cultivated primarily for their large, edible flower buds. Each plant typically grows to a height of 1.2 to 1.5 meters (4 to 5 feet) and spreads to about 90 to 120 centimeters (3 to 4 feet) wide. […]
Overview Description Caraway is a biennial herbaceous plant in the Apiaceae (carrot or parsley) family, cultivated primarily for its aromatic seeds—technically dry fruits called schizocarps. In its first year, caraway forms a low-growing basal rosette of finely divided, pinnate leaves that closely resemble those of […]
Overview Description Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis), also known as Napa cabbage or wong bok, is a cool-season biennial grown as an annual for its tender, mildly sweet leaves. It is a member of the Brassicaceae (mustard) family and is prized for its crisp […]
Overview Description Camellia sinensis is an evergreen shrub or small tree cultivated for its tender young leaves and buds, which are processed to produce various types of tea—including green, black, white, and oolong. The plant typically grows to around 1.5–2 meters (5–6.5 feet) in cultivation, […]
Overview Description Bronze fennel is a perennial herb with attractive, feathery foliage tinged with bronze or purple hues. The plants can reach 90–150 cm (3–5 ft) in height, bearing hollow stems with finely divided, thread-like leaves that create a soft, airy appearance. The foliage exudes […]
Overview Description Corn salad, also known as lamb’s lettuce or mâche, is an annual leafy vegetable grown for its small, tender rosettes of spoon-shaped leaves. These leaves typically form a low, compact clump measuring about 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tall and wide. The foliage is […]
Overview Description Daikon is an annual or biennial root vegetable characterized by its elongated, white taproot. Depending on the variety, roots can range from 20–60 cm (8–24 in) in length and 5–10 cm (2–4 in) in diameter, although there are also more rounded, shorter cultivars […]
Overview Description Mint is a vigorous perennial herb, typically producing square stems characteristic of the mint family. Depending on the species, plants can reach 30–60 cm (1–2 ft) in height and spread outward via underground runners (rhizomes). The bright green leaves are arranged oppositely along […]
Overview Description Burdock (Arctium spp.) is a biennial plant native to Europe and Asia, naturalized in many temperate regions worldwide, including North America and Australia. It belongs to the Asteraceae (daisy) family and is best known for its edible taproot, traditionally used in Asian and […]
Overview Description Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana), often called sugar leaf, is a tender perennial herb famously cultivated for its sweet-tasting leaves. In frost-free climates, plants can live multiple years, but they’re commonly grown as annuals where winters are cold. They typically reach 40–60 cm (16–24 in) […]
Overview Description Buckwheat is a fast-growing, herbaceous broadleaf annual plant belonging to the Polygonaceae (knotweed or smartweed) family, which also includes rhubarb, sorrel, and dock. It is grown for its seeds which can be used in a similar way to wheat or oats. Although it […]
Overview Description Endive is a cool-season leafy vegetable generally grown as an annual. It forms a dense rosette of frilly, lobed leaves, which can be broad and curly (frisée) or slightly flatter (escarole). Mature plants often measure 20–40 cm (8–16 in) high and equally wide, […]
Overview Description Parsnip is a biennial plant in the Apiaceae family, closely related to carrots, celery, fennel, and parsley. It is typically grown as an annual vegetable for its edible taproot, which develops during the first year of growth. In the second year, if not […]
Overview Description Collard greens (also known as tree cabbage or non-heading cabbage) are a leafy, non-heading, wild form of cabbage that is a biennial plant grown as annuals for their large, smooth, oval leaves. Plants have an erect, upright form and typically reach 60–90 cm […]
Overview Description Mizuna is a cool-season leafy green with ling, thin, crip, upright growing stems and finely serrated, feathery leaves that form dense rosettes. There are several varieties of mizuna with different colored stems and leaves, including light green stems with darker green leaves, purple […]
Overview Description Horseradish is a hardy perennial herb grown for its pungent, fleshy taproot. It typically produces a rosette of coarse, lanceolate leaves (spear-shaped—longer than wide, tapering to a point, and sometimes widest at the base) that can reach 60–90 cm (2–3 ft) in height. […]
Overview Description Mustard greens are cool-season leafy vegetables known for their peppery taste (a hot mustard flavor) and quick maturity. Depending on the variety, the plants produce either upright rosettes or sprawling clumps of broad, lobed leaves with distinct vein patterns. Mature heights often range […]
Overview Description Dill is an annual herb grown for its aromatic, feathery green leaves, known for their distinct flavor, and for its seeds, which are commonly used as a spice. The plant has slender, upright, branched hollow stems with delicate, finely divided compound leaves that […]
Overview Description Celeriac, also known as celery root, turnip-rooted celery, knob celery or German celery, is a cool-season biennial grown primarily for its crisp, celery-flavored, bulbous root. This knobby, globe-shaped root develops partially above the soil line and is actually a swollen stem base. Though […]
Overview Description NZ spinach, also known as Warrigal greens, is a hardy perennial leafy green that thrives in hot, dry conditions where conventional spinach often fails. It can be grown as a warm-season stand-in for traditional spinach. This sprawling, heat-tolerant ground-cover plant with a prostrate […]
Overview Description Sweet corn is an annual warm-season grass grown for its tender, sweet kernels. Plants typically reach 1.5–2.4 m (5–8 ft) in height with upright, jointed stems. Long, narrow leaves alternate along the stalk, with prominent leaf sheaths enclosing part of the stem. Sweet […]
Overview Description Kohlrabi is a biennial vegetable most often grown as an annual for its swollen, globe-like stem, which is smooth, firm, resembles a turnip in appearance, and forms just above the soil surface. This enlarged stem—commonly called a “bulb,” though technically a thickened portion […]
Overview Description Chives are herbaceous perennials grown for their slender, hollow green leaves which are used as culinary herbs with a mild onion flavor. They typically grow in dense clumps, reaching around 30-45 cm (12-18 in) in height. The leaves are cylindrical, soft in texture […]
Overview Description Pumpkins (Cucurbita pepo and related species such as Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata) are annual plants known for their sprawling growth habit, with vines that can extend 4.5 – 9 meters (15 -30 feet) in length. The plant typically grows to […]
Overview Description Leeks are hardy biennial plants that are typically grown as annuals for their edible bulb and leaves, and reach a height of 60-90 cm (24-36 inches), depending on the variety and growing conditions. The plant has a clump-forming growth habit, and unlike onions, […]
Overview Description Onions are biennial plants, typically grown as annuals, primarily for their edible bulbs and green shoots. In their first year of growth, onions form a basal rosette of long, cylindrical leaves and develop a bulb underground. The plant’s leaves are hollow, tapering, and […]
Overview Description Capsicums are tender, warm-season plants that are typically grown as annuals in temperate climates, though they can be perennial in tropical regions. The plants grow upright, reaching heights of 45-90 cm (18-36 inches), and exhibit a bushy habit with sturdy, branched stems that […]
Overview Description Tomatoes are among the most popular crops cultivated in gardens worldwide. Although commonly treated as an annual plant, tomatoes are botanically perennial in their native tropical and subtropical regions. However, in most temperate climates, they are grown as annuals due to their sensitivity […]
Overview Description Chillies are annual or perennial plants from the genus Capsicum, which includes several species: While most peppers are spicy, bell peppers (a variety of C. annuum) lack the heat characteristic of other Capsicum species. Chilli plants exhibit diverse growth habits, ranging from herbaceous […]
Overview Description Eggplants, also known as aubergines, are warm-season tropical perennial plants that are typically cultivated as annuals in temperate climates due to their sensitivity to frost. The plant has a bushy growth habit, often reaching heights of 60–120 cm (24–48 inches) depending on the […]
Overview Description Garlic is a hardy perennial plant, typically grown as an annual for its pungent bulbs, which are composed of multiple cloves encased in a papery sheath. The plant has an upright growth habit and can reach a height of 60 to 90 cm […]
Overview Description Garden cress is a herbaceous annual plant in the Brassicaceae family, closely related to watercress and mustard, sharing a similar peppery, tangy flavor profile. The plant typically reaches a height of 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) and has an upright, branching growth habit. Its […]
Overview Description Kale is a hardy, leafy green vegetable that belongs to the Brassicaceae family, which also includes cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. Like collards, kale is a type of non-heading cabbage, meaning it doesn’t form a central head like traditional cabbages. While typically grown as […]
Overview Description Zucchini is a variety of summer squash that grows on bushy, non-vining plants that typically reach 60-90 cm (24-36 inches) high and up to 1.2 meters (4 feet) wide. Their non-spreading, compact growth habit makes them ideally suited for smaller garden spaces. The […]
Overview Description Radishes are fast-growing, annual or biennial root vegetables that are grown for their edible, roots and leaves. They are typically grown as annuals, and are fast growing, and can usually be harvested 3 to 6 weeks after sowing, making them ideal for successive […]
Overview Description Silverbeet, also known as Swiss chard, is a leafy green vegetable that is not only nutritious but also highly ornamental, with vividly colored stalks that can be white, red, yellow, or pink in colour. The large, crinkly leaves resemble those of spinach but […]
Overview Description Cucumbers are vigorous, warm-season annual plants with a vining growth habit, with 4-5 sprawling main stems that can extend up to 5 meters (16.4 feet) in length. Cucumbers have large, alternate leaves that are typically 3-7 lobed, with a rough, hairy texture. The […]
Overview Description Borage is a hardy annual herb that typically grows between 60-90 cm (2-3 feet) in height and 30-60 cm (1-2 feet) in spread. It features coarse, hairy stems and leaves, with the lower leaves being broad and ovate, growing up to 15 cm […]
Overview Description Angelica is a biennial or short-lived perennial that can grow up to 1.5 to 2 meters (5 to 6.5 feet) in height. It features large bipinnate leaves with serrated leaflets and a thick, hollow stem. The plant produces rounded clusters of small, greenish-white […]
Overview Description Asparagus is a perennial plant cultivated for its young shoots, known as spears, which are consumed as a vegetable. Once established, asparagus can produce for over 15 years. The plant features tall, feathery, fern-like foliage growing from a crown that resides below the […]
Overview Description Brussels sprouts are biennial plants typically grown as annuals. They are cultivated for their edible sprouts, which are round, leafy green buds resembling miniature cabbages. These sprouts are light green to blue-green in color and grow in a spiral arrangement along the plant’s […]
Overview Description Bush beans are annual plants that form compact bushes, usually growing up to 30-60 cm (12-24 in) tall. The leaves are trifoliate with rounded leaflets, and the plant produces clusters of flowers that develop into long, slender pods. The pods contain the edible […]
Overview Description Climbing beans are vigorous annual plants that grow by twining around supports. They can reach heights of 2-4 meters (6-13 ft). The plant features long, slender green pods, and it typically produces white, pink, or purple flowers. Climbing beans are highly productive and […]
Overview Description Peas are annual herbaceous legumes cultivated for their edible seeds and pods. As annuals, they complete their life cycle within one growing season. Pea plants can have either a bushy or climbing growth habit, typically reaching heights of 30-200 cm (1-6 ft), depending […]
Overview Description Spinach is an annual leafy green vegetable that can reach up to 30 cm (12 in) in height. The plant produces a rosette of dark green leaves that are either smooth or slightly crinkly depending on the variety. Spinach plants grow quickly, producing […]
Overview Description Lettuce is an annual plant commonly grown as a leaf vegetable. It typically reaches 15-30 cm (6-12 in) in height, forming a dense head, or loose rosette of leaves that are larger at the base and become progressively smaller in size towards the […]
Overview Description Coriander is an annual herb, so it only lives for a single growing season, and grows up to 60 cm (24 in) tall, featuring delicate, lace-like leaves. The lower leaves are broad and lobed, while the upper leaves are finely divided and slender. […]
Overview Description Chives are hardy perennial herbs with slender, tapering, hollow, tubular leaves that resemble grass. They grow in dense clumps, reaching a height of around 30-50 cm (12-20 in) with a similar spread. Being members of the onion family, chives forms small bulbs from […]
Overview Description Celery is a biennial vegetable commonly grown as an annual, featuring fleshy, upright, fibrous stalks reaching a height of 40-60 cm (16-24 in). The plant has pinnate, finely divided leaves. In its second year the plant produces clusters of small, creamy-white flowers arranged […]
Overview Description Cabbage is a biennial vegetable grown as an annual. Its has a short stem bearing rosettes of tightly packed, waxy leaves that wrap around a round, compact head or “heart” consisting of multiple layers of thick, sturdy leaves that grow in a tightly […]
Overview Description Cauliflower is an annual cool-season vegetable with a rosette of large, coarse, bluish-green leaves growing from a thick central stem. The edible part of the plant is a dense cluster of undeveloped flower buds known as the “curd.” The curd is usually white […]
Overview Description Carrots are biennial root vegetables, but they are commonly grown as annuals for their edible taproots. They have a rosette of 8-12 finely divided, feathery leaves with a fern-like appearance, reaching heights of 30-60 cm (12-24 in). The root can range from 15-30 […]
Overview Description Broccoli is an annual plant cultivated for its edible flower heads and stalks. It grows a thick, fibrous stalk topped with a dense cluster of green flower buds known as the “head.” The plant can reach a height of up to 1 m […]
Overview Description Beetroot is a biennial plant cultivated as an annual. It grows an upright rosette of broad, heart-shaped leaves that are dark green with red or purple veins. The round or cylindrical root develops underground and can vary in size, reaching up to 10 […]
Overview Description Amaranth plants belong to the genus Amaranthus, which encompasses a diverse group of annual and perennial plants known for their edible leaves, seeds, and vibrant flowers. These plants are cultivated worldwide for their nutritional value and ornamental beauty. When used for food, they’re […]
Overview Description Basil (Ocimum basilicum), is an annual or perennial plant grown for its aromatic leaves which are used as a herb. The leaves are bright green, smooth, oval-shaped,, opposite (paired) in arrangement and vary in size. Stems are square-shaped, characteristic of the mint family, […]
Overview Description Broad beans (Vicia faba), also known as fava bean, are annual legumes that grow as an upright, bushy plant reaching 0.6-1.5 meters (2-5 ft) in height. Plants often have multiple stems growing from the base. The stems are square in cross-section and slightly […]
