Tag Archives: Perennial vegetables

Plant list for The World Garden


I’ve shared my list of plants that I’ve planted in Trondheim’s World Garden to a few people who’ve asked and now it’s available to anyone who is curious (follow the link).
The World Garden (Verdenshagen) is a garden I’ve created, starting in 2017, to show off the diversity of perennial vegetables, essentially my book Around the World in 80 Plants as a formal garden. Many are edimentals, edientomentals and ediavimentals (i.e, edimentals that are also useful to insects and birds respectively) and demonstrates how growing food can both look good and promote a large biodiversity. The plants are placed geographically around a 12m diameter circle with the centre representing the North Pole, where edibles from arctic and mountain regions of the world are planted.
A few are annuals or biennials, planted in the gaps as the perennials grow and expand. For those of you who like lists, a list of the 359 plants I’ve planted so far is included below the new drone pictures taken in 2024! (thanks to board member Dan Smith). NB! A few of the plants have died, so this isn’t a list of current plants in the garden! I’ve noted this in the list. In addition, a few are planted each spring and overwintered indoors, such as some of the South American tuber crops.

 

PLANTED IN THE WORLD GARDEN (as of January 2025)
Acanthopanax sessiliflorum (syn Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus); Korean Ginseng
Aegopodium podograria Variegata; Ground elder; Skvallerkål
Agastache foeniculum ; Anise Hyssop; Anisisop
Agastache foeniculum Aureum; Golden Anise Hyssop; Anisisop
Agastache spp.; ;
Alcea ficifolia; ;
Alcea rosea ; Hollyhock; Stokkrose
Allium altissimum “Goliath”; Persian shallot ; Persisk sjalott
Allium ampeloprasum “Elephant Garlic”; Elephant Garlic; Elefanthvitløk
Allium ampeloprasum “Oerprei”; ;
Allium ampeloprasum “Perennial Leek”; Perennial leek;
Allium ampeloprasum “Perennial”?; Perennial leek;
Allium ampeloprasum “Porrum”; Leek; Purre
Allium ampeloprasum var babingtonii; Babington’s Leek;
Allium angulosum x nutans “Norrlandsløk”; Norrland onion; Norrlandsløk
Allium carolinianum ; ;
Allium cernuum “Alan Kapuler”; Nodding onion; Prærieløk
Allium cernuum “Dwarf White”; Nodding onion; Prærieløk
Allium cernuum Miks; Nodding onion; Prærieløk
Allium cernuum Tall; Nodding onion ; Prærieløk
Allium douglasii; Douglas’ Onion;
Allium fistulosum “Ishikura”; Welsh onion; Pipeløk
Allium fistulosum “Nedre Gjetsiden”; Welsh onion; Takløk fra Gudbrandsdalen
Allium flavum “Blue Leaf” ; ;
Allium flavum tauricum; Small Yellow Onion; Doggløk
Allium hookeri var muliense; ;
Allium humile; ;
Allium karataviense; ;
Allium lusitanicum; ; Kantløk
Allium macranthum “Album”; ;
Allium moly; Golden Garlic; Lili Leek; Gull-løk
Allium nutans “Esmee” ; Blue Chives; Sibirsk nikkeløk
Allium nutans “Seedlings” ; Blue Chives; Sibirsk nikkeløk
Allium obliquum; Twistedleaf Garlic; Tvistebladløk
Allium ochotense (Allium ulleungense?); ;
Allium ochotense (syn Allium victorialis); Victory onion; Seiersløk
Allium pskemense; ;
Allium pskemense x fistulosum; Wietse’s onion; Wietsesløk
Allium sativum “Aleksandra”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Arkus”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Belarus”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Cledor”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Dukat”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Estisk Rød”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “German Hardneck”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Ljubasha”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Lochiel”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Morado”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Ornac”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Romania”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Tia Pink”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “USSR Rocambole”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Valdres”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Vallelado”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium sativum “Ävrö”; Garlic; Hvitløk
Allium schoenoprasum Alba; Chives; Gressløk
Allium schoenoprasum Dwarf; Chives; Gressløk
Allium schoenoprasum ssp boreale “Bente Marie Antonsen”; Siberian chives; Sibirgressløk
Allium scorodoprasum “Sandøy”; Sand leek; Bendelløk
Allium scorodoprasum “Abrahamsplassen, Lysthushaugen, Store Milde”; Sand leek; Bendelløk
Allium scorodoprasum “Borøya”; Sand leek; Bendelløk
Allium scorodoprasum “Gotland”; Sand leek; Bendelløk
Allium scorodoprasum “Homborsund fyr, Store Grønningen”; Sand leek; Bendelløk
Allium scorodoprasum “Leikerøya”; Sand leek; Bendelløk
Allium scorodoprasum “Møvik”; Sand leek; Bendelløk
Allium senescens ; ;
Allium sphaerocephalon; ;
Allium stipitatum; Persian shallot ; Persisk sjalott
Allium stipitatum “Mount Everest” ; Persian shallot ; Persisk sjalott
Allium ursinum; Ramsons; Ramsløk
Allium validum; Pacific onion; Stillehavsløk
Allium victorialis; Alpine Leek; Seiersløk
Allium victorialis “Nordland” ; Victory onion; Seiersløk
Allium wallichii Miks; Jimbur; Nepal-løk
Allium x cornutum ; ;
Allium x proliferum ; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium x proliferum “5-Etasjers”; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium x proliferum “Dømmesmoen”; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium x proliferum “Labråten”; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium x proliferum “Lachmanns Vei”; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium x proliferum “Landeskogen Tuberkulose Sanatorie, Grendi”; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium x proliferum “Lindesnes Fyr”; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium x proliferum “Malvik, Trøndelag”; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium x proliferum “Merete Lauen”; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium x proliferum “Sunnfjord Folkemuseum”; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium x proliferum “Tord Kvitrud”; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium x proliferum “Tungenes Fyr”; Walking onion; Luftløk
Allium zebdanense; ;
Anchusa “Loddon Royalist”; ;
Anethum graveolens ; Dill; Dill
Anethum graveolens “Bouquet”; Dill; Dill
Angelica acutiloba ; ;
Angelica archangelica ssp archangelica v. Majorum “Vossakvann Markusteigen”; Angelica; Vossakvann
Angelica gigas; Korean Angelica/Giant Angelica; Rødkvann
Angelica keiskei; Ashitaba; (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Anredera cordifolia; Madeira Vine (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Anthriscus cerefolium ; Chervil; Hagekjørvel
Anthriscus sylvestris “Golden Fleece”; Cow parsley; Hundekjeks
Apium graveolens “Blush”; Celery ; Selleri
Apium nodiflorum; Fool’s Water-cress; European Marshwort;
Aquilegia caerulea (syn. coerulea); Rocky Mountain Columbine; Himmelakeleie
Aquilegia canadensis ; Wild Columbine; Kanadaakeleie
Arabis alpina; Alpine rock cress; Fjellskrinneblom
Aralia californica; ;
Aralia cordata ; Udo; Udo
Aralia cordata “Sun King”; Udo; Udo (died)
Aralia cordata var. sachalinensis; Udo; Udo
Aralia elata; Japanese Angelica Tree; Høstaralia
Aralia schmidtii; ;
Arctium lappa “Være Miks”; Great Burdock; Storborre
Artemisia dracunculus sativa “German”; German Tarragon; Tysk estragon
Asclepias incarnata “Soulmate”; Swamp Milkweed;
Asparagus officinalis ; Asparagus; Asparges
Asparagus officinalis “3lb Coffee Can”; Asparagus; Asparges
Asparagus officinalis “Meg’s Asparagus” ; Asparagus; Asparges
Asparagus officinalis “Purple Passion”; Asparagus; Asparges
Asparagus officinalis “Ringve”; Asparagus; Asparges
Asparagus officinalis “Tobacco box”; Asparagus; Asparges
Aster macrophylla “Twilight”; Big leaf aster;
Aster ovatus var yezoensis “Hakikomi Fu” (now Aster microcephalus);
Aster scaber; ;
Aster scaber “Ki Hakikomi Fu”; ;
Aster yomena; ;
Atriplex hortensis “Lille Næstved Skole” NGB26130; Orach; Hagemelde
Begonia aff. sinensis BWJ8133; (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Begonia miks (Colden Common); (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Begonia Plantearven #30; (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Bistorta officinalis; Bistort; Ormerot
Bistorta officinalis ssp pacifica “Hakikomi Fu”; Bistort; Ormerot
Brassica juncea “Giant Red”; Mustard Greens; Sennepsalat
Brassica oleracea “Couve de Estaca” ; Perennial Kale; Flerårig Kål
Brassica oleracea “Daubenton x Late Purple Sprouting Brokkoli / Low” ; Perennial Kale; Flerårig Kål
Brassica oleracea “Daubenton-like” ; Perennial Kale; Flerårig Kål
Brassica oleracea “Ehwiger Kohl” (syn “Eiiwig Moes”); Ehwiger cabbage;
Brassica oleracea “Homesteader’s Kale” ; Perennial Kale; Flerårig Kål
Brassica oleracea “Taunton Deane”; Ehwiger cabbage; Flerårig Kål
Brassica oleracea “Tree Collard” ; Perennial Kale; Flerårig Kål
Calendula officinalis ; Pot Marigold; Ringblomst
Calochortus palmeri; Palmer’s mariposa lily, Strangling mariposa;
Camassia cusickii “Zwanenburg”; Cusick’s Quamash; Stjernehyasint
Camassia quamash; Small Camas;
Camassia quamash “Orion”; Small Camas;
Campanula latifolia Ex-“Gloaming”; Giant Bellflower; Storklokke
Campanula latifolia Ex-“Lotzes Dark Bells”; Giant Bellflower; Storklokke
Campanula punctata “Alba”; ;
Campanula punctata “Beetroot / Rubrifolia”; Chinese Rampion; Prikk-klokke
Canna “Solveig Bakken”;(Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Canna edulis var warszewiczii (syn. Canna indica); Indian Shot; Queensland arrowroot; (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Capsella bursa-pastoris; Shepherd’s Purse; Gjetertaske
Carum carvi “Caraway Root” from Malvik; Caraway; Karve
Chaerophyllum bulbosum “Doreene”; Turnip-rooted Chervil; Knollkjeks (died)
Chenopodium ambrosioides ; Epazote; Sitronmelde (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Chrysanthemum coronarium “Double” CHRY69; Shungiku; Chopsuey Greens; Shungiku; Kronkrage
Chrysanthemum coronarium CHRY67 (Single flowered); Shungiku; Chopsuey Greens; Shungiku; Kronkrage
Chrysanthemum coronarium Double; Shungiku; Chopsuey Greens; Shungiku; Kronkrage
Chrysanthemum coronarium Double White; Shungiku; Chopsuey Greens; Shungiku; Kronkrage
Chrysanthemum segetum ; Corn Marigold; Gullkrage
Cichorium intybus; Chicory; Sikkori
Cichorium intybus “Soncino” iPK; Chicory; Sikkori
Cichorium intybus “Witloof Væres Venner”; Chicory; Sikkori
Cirsium canum; Queen Anne’s Thistle;
Cirsium eriophorum; Wooly Thistle; Ulltistel
Cirsium occidentale; Cobweb thistle;
Cirsium oleraceum; Siberian Thistle/Cabbage Thistle; Kåltistel
Cirsium rivulare “Atropurpureum”; ;
Cirsium tuberosum ; Tuberous Thistle; Knolltistel
Codonopsis ovata; ;
Codonopsis pilosula ; Dang Shen; Dang Shen
Coix lacryma-jobi “Mekong”; Job’s Tears; Jobståre
Conopodium majus; Pignut; Jordnøtt
Coriandrum sativum; Coriander; Koriander
Crambe cordifolia; Heartleaf Crambe; Buskstrandkål
Crambe maritima “Lily White” ; Sea kale; Strandkål
Crambe orientalis; ;
Crithmum maritimum; Rock Samphire; Sanktpeterskjerm (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Cryptotaenia canadensis; Honewort;
Cryptotaenia japonica ; Mitsuba; Japanese Parsley; Mitsuba; Japansk Persille
Cryptotaenia japonica “Dosaka Shiroguki” CRY1; Mitsuba; Japanese Parsley; Mitsuba; Japansk Persille
Cryptotaenia japonica Atropurpurea; Mitsuba; Japanese Parsley; Mitsuba; Japansk Persille
Cynara scolymus “Vert de Leon” ; Artichoke; Artiskokk (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Cyperus esculentus; Tiger Nuts/Chufa; Matkypergras (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Dahlia “Bishop of Dover”; (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Dahlia “Bishop of Llandaff”; (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Dahlia “Bløtkake”; (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Dahlia “Yellow Sneezy”; (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Dahlia pinnata “Festival”; ;
Diplotaxis tenuifolia “Wild Rocket Wildfire”?; Perennial Wall-rocket ; Steinsennep
Dystaenia takesimana;  Giant Ulleung Celery
Elatostema umbellata; ; (died)
Elsholtzia elata; Crested Late Summer-Mint; Kammynte
Fagopyrum dibotrys; Perennial Buckwheat; Flerårig Bokhvete (died)
Fagopyrum tataricum FAG98; Tartarian Buckwheat; Vill Bokhvete
Foeniculum vulgare “Bronze”; Fennel; Fennikel (died)
Fritillaria camschatcensis; Kamchatka Lily/Rice Lily; Svartlilje
Fuchsia magellanica; Hardy Fuchsia; Magellan-tåre
Glycyrrhiza glabra ; Licquorice; Lakrisrot (not all varieties have survived)
Glycyrrhiza glabra GLY18; Licquorice; Lakris
Glycyrrhiza glabra var glabra GLY23; Licquorice; Lakris
Glycyrrhiza glabra var glabra GLY8; Licquorice; Lakris
Glycyrrhiza glabra var glandulifera GLY1; Licquorice; Lakris
Glycyrrhiza glabra var glandulifera GLY7; Licquorice; Lakris
Hablitzia tamnoides; Hablitzia; Caucasian spinach; Stjernemelde
Helianthus annuus “Dwarf Yellow”; Sunflower; Solsikke
Helianthus annuus “Short Russian”; Sunflower; Solsikke
Helianthus strumosus “Herman”?; ;
Helianthus tuberosum “Bianca”; Jerusalem Artichoke; Jordskokk
Helianthus tuberosum “Dagnøytral Form”; Jerusalem Artichoke; Jordskokk
Helianthus tuberosum “Dagnøytral x Karl Aakerro’s Northern accessions; Jerusalem Artichoke; Jordskokk
Helianthus tuberosum “Dwarf Sunray”; Jerusalem Artichoke; Jordskokk
Helianthus tuberosum “Dwarf”; Jerusalem Artichoke; Jordskokk
Helianthus tuberosum “Fuseau”; Jerusalem Artichoke; Jordskokk
Helianthus tuberosum “Long Smooth”; Jerusalem Artichoke; Jordskokk
Helianthus tuberosum “NC-202”; Jerusalem Artichoke; Jordskokk
Hemerocallis; ;
Hemerocallis altissima; Day Lily; Daglilje
Hemerocallis citrina; Day Lily; Daglilje
Hemerocallis dumortieri; ;
Hemerocallis middendorfii; ;
Hemerocallis spp. ; ;
Hemerocallis spp. #2; Daylily; Daglilje
Heracleum sphondylium “Pink flowered”; Hogweed; Kystbjørnekjeks
Hosta “Blue Angel”; ;
Hosta “Empress Wu”; ;
Hosta montana?; ;
Hosta nigrescens; ;
Hosta sieboldiana “Big Daddy”; Plantain-Lily; Dugg-bladlilje
Hosta sieboldiana “Elegans”; ;
Humulus lupulus; Hops; Humle (Wild from Wisconsin)
Humulus lupulus Aureus ; Golden Hops; Gullhumle
Hydrophyllum appendiculatum; Great Waterleaf;
Hydrophyllum tenuipes; Pacific waterleaf, Slender-stem waterleaf;
Hydrophyllum virginianum; Eastern Waterleaf; Virginia Waterleaf;
Kalimeris pinnatifida “Hortensis” ; ;
Kalimeris yomena “Shogun”; ;
Laportea bulbilifera; ; (died)
Laportea canadensis ; Canadian Wood Nettle;
Lathyrus sativus; Chickling Pea; Fôrskolm
Levisticum officinale “Ullershov”; Lovage; Løpstikke
Lewisia longipetala x cotyledon “Little Plum”; ;
Lewisia pygmaea; Pygmy Bitterroot, Alpine Lewisia, Dwarf Lewisia ; Dverglewisia
Lewisia rupicola (syn Lewisia columbiana var rupicola); Columbian Lewisia; Columbian Bitteroot
Ligularia fischeri; Fischer’s Ligularia; Fischersnøkketunge
Ligularia fischeri “Vill fra Himalaya”; ;
Ligularia fischeri var. megalorhiza “Cheju Charmer”; ;
Ligusticum canadense; American lovage, boar hog root, Canadian licorice-root;
Ligusticum grayi; Gray’s licorice-root;
Ligusticum hultenii; ;
Lilium davidii; David’s Lily; Davidslilje
Lilium henryi; ;
Lilium lancifolium; Tiger lily; Tigerlilje
Lilium martagon Miks; Martagon Lily; Martagonlilje; krøll-lilje
Lomatium dissectum; Fernleaf Biscuitroot;
Lomatium nudicaule; Pestle Parsnip ;
Lotus tetragonolobus (syn Tetragonolobus purpureus); Asparagus Pea;
Maianthemum racemosum “Emily Moody” ; False Spikenard; Toppkonvall
Malva crispa; Curly mallow; Kruskattost
Malva moschata; Musk Mallow; Moskuskattost
Malva moschata “Alba”; Musk Mallow; Moskuskattost
Malva sylvestris zebrina; Common Mallow; Apotekerkattost
Matteuccia struthiopteris ; Ostrich Fern; Strutseving
Medicago sativa ; Lucerne, Alfalfa; Blålusern
Medicago sativa “Cache Valley”; Lucerne, Alfalfa; Blålusern
Melissa officinalis ; Lemon balm; Sitronmelisse
Monarda “Cambridge Scarlet”; ;
Monarda “Pink Surprise” (Supreme); ;
Monarda fistulosa; Wild Bergamot; Rørhestemynte
Oenanthe javanica; Seri; Seri
Oplopanax horridus; Devil’s Club; (died)
Opuntia spp. ; ;
Ornithogalum pyrenaicum ; Bath Asparagus;
Osmorhiza spp.; ;
Oxalis “Ute” (O. laciniata x O. enneaphylla); ;
Oxalis acetosella “Rosea”; Wood Sorrel; Gjøksyre
Oxalis adenophylla “Minima”; ;
Oxalis tuberosa “Red”; Oca; Oca (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Oxalis tuberosa “Yellow”; Oca; Oca (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Papaver somniferum var setigerum ; Opium poppy; Opiumvalmue
Papaver somniferum “After Midnight”; Opium poppy; Opiumvalmue
Papaver somniferum “Sissinghurst White”; Opium poppy; Opiumvalmue
Perideridia montana; Gairdner’s Yampah ;
Petroselinum crispum ; Parsley; Persille
Petroselinum crispum “Moss Curled 2”; Parsley; Persille
Phaseolus coccineus “Attila”; ;
Phaseolus coccineus Miks; Runner Beans; Blomsterbønner, løpebønner
Phyteuma nigrum ; Black rampion; Svartvadderot
Phyteuma spicatum ; Spiked Rampion; Vadderot
Phyteuma spicatum (with blotches); Spiked Rampion; Vadderot
Phytolacca americana; Pokeweed; Kermesbær
Plantago major “Atropurpurea”; Greater Plantain; Groblad
Platycodon grandiflorus “Mixed hybrid doubles”; Balloon Flower; Flattklokke
Polygonum viviparum; Alpine bistort; Harerug
Polymnia sonchifolia (syn Polymnia edulis; from Nevi); Yacon Strawberry; Yacon (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Primula veris ; Cowslip; Marinøkleblom
Raphanus sativus convar caudatus “Busk reddik”; Radish; Reddik
Raphanus sativus convar caudatus “Dragon’s Tail”; Radish; Reddik
Raphanus sativus convar caudatus “IPK RA765” Slangenradijs; Radish; Reddik
Raphanus sativus convar caudatus “IPK RA82”; Radish; Reddik
Raphanus sativus convar caudatus “IPK RA84”; Radish; Reddik
Raphanus sativus convar caudatus “IPK RA85”; Radish; Reddik
Raphanus sativus convar caudatus “Radish pod”; Radish; Reddik
Rheum ribes; ;
Rheum webbianum; ; 
Rheum x rhabarbarum “Ex-Træna”; Rhubarb; Rabarbra
Rhodiola rosea; Roseroot; Rosenrot
Rosmarinus officinalis ; Rosemary; Rosmarin
Rudbeckia laciniata ; Cutleaf Coneflower; Gjerdesolhatt
Rudbeckia laciniata (Double); Cutleaf Coneflower; Gjerdesolhatt
Rumex acetosa “Kerti” IPK RUM22; Sorrel; Engsyre
Rumex acetosa “Champion”; Sorrel; Engsyre
Rumex acetosa “Non-flowering variety” (Profusion?); Sorrel; Engsyre
Rumex acetosa vinealis; Sorrel; Engsyre
Rumex patientia; Herb Patience; Hagesyre
Rumex rugosus RUM22; ;
Rumex scutatus “Leiden” ; Buckler-leaved Sorrel; Fransksyre
Rumex scutatus “Silver Shield” ; Buckler-leaved Sorrel; Fransksyre
Saccharum officinarum “Raglan”; Sugar Cane; Sukkerrør (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Sagitttaria latifolia?; Wapato; Wapato
Salvia officinalis; Sage; Salvie
Saxifraga stolonifera; Creeping saxifrage, strawberry saxifrage, creeping rockfoil
Saxifraga stolonifera Dark leaves; Creeping saxifrage, strawberry saxifrage, creeping rockfoil
Schisandra chinensis “Eastern Prince”; Wu Wei Zi; Sandra Berry; Schisandra;
Secale cerale “Mountaineer Perennial”; Rye; Rug
Sedum sarmentosum; ;
Sideritis hyssopifolia; ;
Sideritis syriaca; Greek mountain tea; Gresk fjellte
Silene vulgaris “Rosea”; Bladder Campion, Maiden’s Tears; Engsmelle
Silene vulgaris “Variegata”; Bladder Campion, Maiden’s Tears; Engsmelle
Silybum marianum “Adriana”; Milk Thistle; Mariatistel
Sium sisarum ; Skirret; Sukkerrot
Sium sisarum “Improved”; Skirret; Sukkerrot
Taraxacum “Pissenlit Ameliore Coeur Plein” IPK TARA11; Moss-leaved Dandelion; Mosebladet løvetann
Taraxacum albidum; ;
Taraxacum coreanum; ;
Taraxacum leucanthum ; ;
Taraxacum pseudoroseum; Pink flowered dandelion; Rosablomstret løvetann
Taraxacum tortilobum ; Moss-leaved Dandelion; Mosebladet løvetann
Tetragonia tetragonoides; New Zealand Spinach; Ny Zealandsk spinat (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Tigridia pavonia; Tiger flower; Ny Zealandsk spinat (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Tradescantia occidentalis; Prairie Spiderwort;
Tradescantia (Andersoniana Group) ‘Sweet Kate’; ;
Tragopogon balcanicus; ;
Tragopogon orientalis; ;
Trillium erectum “Burgundy”; Beth Root
Tropaeolum majus all; Nasturtium; Vanlig blomkarse
Tropaeolum tuberosum “Ken Aslet”; Mashua; Knollblomkarse (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Tropaeolum tuberosum “White tubers”; Mashua; Knollblomkarse (Not hardy, overwintered inside)
Urtica dioica “Stingless Form Group” #2; Stinging nettle ; Brennesle
Urtica gracilis (syn Urtica dioica gracilis); Stinging Nettle, California Nettle;
Vicia faba; Broad beans; Bondebønner
Vicia faba “Oldamster Wierdeboon”; Broad beans; Bondebønner
Vicia faba major “Fingerprint Fava”; Broad Beans; Bondebønne
Vicia faba major “Red Cheek Fava”; Broad Beans; Bondebønne
Vicia faba major “Small Black”; Broad Beans; Bondebønne
Vicia faba major “The Sutton”; Broad Beans; Bondebønne
Vicia narbonensis; ;
Zingiber mioga ; Myoga, Myoga ginger, Japanese Ginger;  (died)

Dandy Lion Quiche

Happy Dandy Lions forced in the living room, glad to have been invited into the warmth. Little do they know though that I had a cruel plan to put them into  last night’s quiche!

Quiche is one of some 20 generic dishes I’ve evolved over the years for using perennial veg as there are no recipes for the veggies I grow. As always, we use coarse whole grain flour  (organic emmer wheat and svedje rye flour). We also used forced Allium senescens onions and leeks and swiss chard from cold storage in the cellar as well as garlic and rehydrated winter chantarelles. Super tasty and healthy!

Asteraceae: valuable autumn flowering edientomentals!

When giving talks I like to renew myself and talk about something different each time. For my talk in Copenhagen at the Future Heirloom event last weekend I focussed during part of my presentation on edimentals in the Asteraceae or Compositae (the aster or daisy family / kurvplantefamilien). These are tbe edible perennial vegetables that are most obvious in the autumn garden and often underutilised by chefs in the west. Visiting the World Garden a few days before my talk on 17th October, I gathered flowers from all the flowering Asteraceae and here they are with names:Most are used for their tasty spring shoots and leaves, used cooked and raw, and most have a characteristic fragrant taste / aroma loved in the Far East (as also Chrysanthemum tea is popular and a refreshing accompaniment to spicy dishes). Aster scaber and Ligularia fischeri are nowadays both cultivated in a big way as “sannamul” in Korea and even exported to Korean markets around the world. Young shoots of other Aster sp. are  foraged in Asia as is big-leaf Aster, Aster macrophyllus, in North America. Also from North America, cutleaf coneflower Rudbeckia laciniata or sochan was a popular vegetable for the Cherokee first people and in recent years has, maybe not unsurprisingly become a commercial vegetable in Korea. Annual shungiku or chopsuey greens Glebionis coronaria  hails from the Mediterranean but is today an important vegetable in the Far East! Others currently in flower are best known as root crops, including (in the picture) Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) and Dahlia. Yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia) is also autumn flowering but doesn’t manage to flower here (is moved indoors to flower and bulk up). The final flower in the picture is marigold Calendula officinalis, whose culinary use includes decorating and flavouring salads, soups and other dishes.
Late flowering also means that the Asteraceae are also particularly important for a range of insect pollinators like hoverflies, drone flies and bees as can be seen in the pictures below, all taken in the World Garden:




Around the garden in 40 plants

To celebrate 40 years since I and my then wife Eileen bought Bergstua (literally house on the rock) and the garden that became The Edible (Forest) Garden, I endeavoured during the second of the two garden tours (as part of økouka – organics week) to talk about 40 of the plants in the garden during the 90 minute tour (see below)…and underway I discovered two firsts for the garden! Next time I must do an Around the Garden in 80 plants tour (it’s soon the 10th anniversary of my book!)….but would anyone come to a 3 hour tour?
Curious about what plants I talked about on this mid-September day, then scroll down as I list and have added notes about all 40!
…and another lovely group of participants took part on this special Saturday garden tour:

Here are the plants and subjects I talked about:
1. Urtica dioica, stinging nettle / brennesle and plant #1 for biodiversity in the garden: 60+ moth and butterfly larvae feed on this plant and various birds like bullfinch and redpoll (dompap og gråsisik) feed on the seeds in winter; I don’t cut down this patch in good view of the kitchen window for winter bird watching:

2. Urtica gracilis, California nettle, slender nettle is considered a subspecies of dioica and reaches over 3m in my garden on dry soil:
3. Salix caprea, goat willow / selje; even though not edible for us, it’s another key species for biodiversity important for wild bees, bumble bees and other insects, including 60 moths feeding on the catkins in mid-April and as a larval food plants and in turn for insectivorous birds, many of which like the chiffchaff (gransanger) arrive as the flowers open. I have several large trees in the garden:4. Vicia faba, broad beans / bondebønner; the authorities recommend that we eat more climate friendly / healthy vegetarian and vegan foods, yet much of this food is imported. Broad (fava) beans were the original hummus / felafel bean and we should be growing them in a big way, even here along the Trondheimsfjord where I live; this is the diverse local grex I’ve developed here, currently drying for seed and winter dishes:5. Phaseolus coccineus, runner beans / løpebønner; I’m also developing a local early land race that produces ripe beans here:6. Cichorium intybus, chicory / sikori; one of my favourite vegetables with bitterness lacking in modern diets. It’s a versatile vegetable and salad crop with hundreds of varieties that I’m trialling; is easy to save seed from and when in flower in late summer is loved by hoverflies – I also have perennial plants that have naturalised here: 
7. Allium cernuum, nodding or Chicago onion / prærieløk is probably my favourite and most used perennial onion; it’s super-hardy, can be harvested all winter, tolerates also heat and drought, is a fast grower and is one of the best edientomentals (edible, pollinator friendly and ornamental):
8. Allium wallichii, Sherpa or Nepal onion / Sherpaløk; see my book and search on this blog for much more about this great Allium; I talked about the pleasure of the Nepalese botanist and his wife who visited my garden and met this onion (Jimmu) for the first time, despite having eaten it all their lives – they had never been to the high elevations where this plant grows and is grown for markets, destined for lentil soup.
9.  Allium stipitatum, Persian shallot is one of the ornamental onions that are commonly sold in garden centres in autumn; they are productive, quickly multiplying here. They are used in the Iranian national dish yogurt and Persian shallot dip (Mast-o Mooseer) and often spiced up with the delicious ground seeds of Tromsø-palm (Heracleum persicum) or golpar! I showed both the spice and seeds of another Heracleum species that we use daily in various dishes, replacing cumin.10. Heracleum sphondylium, hogweed / kystbjørnekjeks: probably the most important plant in the garden for a wide range of pollinators – several rare hoverflies, wasps and wild bees have turned up in the umbels; it also flowers over a very long period and provides me also with golpar (see #9) and delicious spring shoots. It’s flowered this year continuously in the garden from June this year:
11. Allium victorialis, victory onion / seiersløk; see my book and search the web site for more information. Another great edientomental!
12. Hosta sieboldiana “Big Daddy”; the perennial vegetable that really shows the benefits, attractive, tasty plants that can be grown in places like the shady, north side of your house where you wouldn’t dream of growing annuals, never need irrigation, may well outlive you and are, surprisingly, very nutritious and productive. Cultivated as sansai vegetables in a big way in the mountains in Japan. See my book and search this web page for much more. 13. Malva moschata, musk mallow / moskuskattost is my favourite Malvaceae; can be used throughout the summer (flowers and young seed pods can also be eaten).
14.Malva alcea, hollyhock mallow / rosekattost; as Malva moschata
15-16. Aster scaber and Aster yomena are two tall autumn flowering species currently brightening up the garden; the former is a very important cultivated pring vegetable in Korea (see more in my book), the latter is wild foraged in Japan:17. Rudbeckia laciniata, Cherokee spinach, sochan / kyss-meg -over-gjerde, gjerdesolhatt; perhaps the most commonly grown ornamental in Norwegian gardens since 1900 is the most important vegetable for the Cherokee people of the Appalachian mountains; is now being cultivated commercially in Korea.
18. Vitis coignetiae,  crimson glory vine, Japanvin (can be seen in the background of the picture above); the grapes are small and my plant hasn’t produced any – leaves can be used as wraps.
19. Ligularia fischeri; gomchwi, Korea-nøkketunge; an important cultivated vegetable in Korea (king of the sannamul or mountain vegetables). More on my web site.
20. Dahlia, georginer; came to Europe originally as a tuber crop but was outcompeted by potato.
21. Secale “Mountaineer”, perennial rye / flerårige rug: we talked about the benefits of perennial grains which can give large savings in fuel, watering and fertiliser as with all perennial crops (both perennial barley and wheat have also been created but developments are slow)22. Solanum lycopersicum, tomato / tomat; we talked about two varieties (shown in the picture) that I’d recently harvested: large German Pink was the first edible to be saved and offered through Seed Savers Exchange in 1973. I was gifted seed through SSE when I visited in 2019 and it is now greenhouse grown by several in KVANN (Norwegian Seed Savers); mine were grown indoors. The smaller tomato is probably the best early, cold tolerant variety I’ve grown (starting with 10 varieties 3 years ago, these along with 42 days and Turbo Reaktniy ripened outside in mid-August). 23. Fagopyrum tataricum, tartary buckwheat / vill bokhvete; I collect the seed which are used to produce buckwheat sprouts in winter in the living room; I’m also trying different varieties looking for best varieties for popping!
24. Fagopyrum acutatum, perennial buckwheat / flerårige bokhvete; used as a vegetable rather than a grain plant.
25. Campanula rapunculoides, creeping bellflower / ugressklokke; this is the only flowering bellflower at the moment, but isn’t the best edible bellflower – my favourite is giant bellflower / storklokke Campanula latifolia which has a long history of use in Norway, in particular, the sami people in the south and, historically, also Norwegians in my area harvested leaves to use in springtime soups.
26. Gunnera tinctoria is known as nalca in Chile where the leaf stems are sold on markets, used in the national dish curanto, a fish and meat stew; at this time of year the stems are rather fibrous, but can be used to quench the thirst. We sampled one of the stems and the taste was rather neutral with no sense of sweetness or sourness I’ve tasted before (participants got the quenching the thirst thing!):27. Actinidia deliciosa, kiwi fruit; I germinated some seeds from a supermarket kiwi 30 years ago, accidentally left the resulting young plants outside all winter and they survived and are still alive today on the house wall – no chance of any fruit here as our summers are too cold and you need two compatible plants, but the one surviving plant flowers every summer. 
28.Staphylea pinnata, bladdernut / blærenøtt; it’s 17 years now since I planted this tree and it produces many small nuts that taste a bit like pistachios, but they are really too small to be useful. On the other hand, the young shoots and flowers are very tasty.29. Taraxacum sp., dandelion / løvetann; I showed these boxes which contain 22 dandelion species which I received as seed from a dandelion specialist in the UK, all formally identified  this will allow me to more easily follow and learn the ID key in the Field Handbook to British and Irish Dandelions :) 30. Hablitzia tamnoides, Caucasian spinach / stjernemelde – as usual I told the story of my favourite perennial vegetable, still after 23 years as productive as ever and reaching 3m each summer on this shady wall (more in my book and this web site); I here introduced the role of Fredrik Christian Schübeler botanical garden in Oslo in the late 1800s in our knowledge of this plant as one of the best perennial vegetables today; this also lead to my involvement in recreating Schübelers hager, a network of inspiration gardens in Norway inspired by Schübelers own network of rectory gardens to which all my 3 gardens belong; see https://kvann.no/schubeler/om-schubelers-hager:31. Ribes divaricatum “Worcesterberry”; all participants sampled my Worcesterberries which will hang on the bushes until the first hard frosts:
32. Arctium lappa, greater burdock / storborre is one of the best edi-ento-avi-mentals – edible roots and flower stems, pollinator friendly and bird friendly as well as being an attractive (interesting) plant. The plant in the picture was planted there easily seen from my living room in winter when goldfinches / stillits arrive to feed on the oil-rich seeds:33. Scorzonera hispanica, scorzonera, scorsonerrot; the last flowers on this great long-lived perennial vegetable (much more in my book):34 – 35. Aralia cordata, udo is my largest perennial veg and is seen here at 23 years old with Aroma apples (Malus domestica) in the part of the garden that is most like a mature productive forest garden with all the layers of edible plants – lesser celandine / vårkål; ground elder / strutsevinge; ostrich fern / strutsevinge; giant bellflower / storklokke; Aralia racemosa, cordata and elata; redcurrant and blackcurrant etc. and goat willow / selje towering above. Ironically, I spent a whole summer terracing above this part of the garden, the steepest and now most productive! I talked also about how the first permaculturists visiting the garden in the mid-2000s after an appearance on Norwegian TV and a 3 part article on the Edible Garden in the national gardening magazine Hagetidend, told me that I had a forest garden! The garden is now also part of the permaculture LAND Centre network.
36. Castanea sativa, sweet chestnut / edelkastanje; as I was showing the participants this part of the garden my eyes rested on my first sweet chestnut on a tree I planted, from woodland in Southern England, in May 2008 at 4 years old.37. Received as Juglans cathayensis , Chinese walnut / Kinesisk valnøtt (the tree is laden again this year with the chestnut seen at the far left)38. Corylus colurna, Turkish hazel / Tyrkisk hassel:39. Rhus typhina, staghorn sumac / hjortesumak (we tasted “lemonade” bush)40. Malus fusca,  Oregon crabapple, Pacific crabapple; I don’t think fruits  on this tree had fully ripened before and I thought the taste was quite pleasant:

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Edible Plants at RHS Wisley Gardens; June 2013

A visit to RHS Wisley near Woking just outside London on 28th June 2013, one of my favourite gardens for edibles spotting….I’m resurrecting this album which I only posted on Facebook at the time.

Besøk fra (visit from) Arche Noah

Engelsk tekst nederst
I løpet av 17.-19. juli var jeg glad for å kunne returnere gjestfriheten gitt av KVANNs søsterorganisasjon Arche Noah (Austrian Seed Savers) under mine 2 turer dit i 2017 og januar 2020 rett før COVID-en rammet (se https://www.edimentals .com/blog/?s=arche+noah)
Dette var i forbindelse med et Erasmus pluss utdanningsprogram der Arche Noah-utdanningen besøker ulike steder i Europa for å lære mer om flerårige grønnsaker og skogshager! Vi besøkte hver av mine 3 hager: The Edible Garden, Væres Venners Felleshagen og Løkhagen Chicago ved NTNU Ringve Botaniske Hagen.
Vi fikk selskap av Guri Bugge, Mette Theisen og Judit Fehér fra KVANNs styre (bilde). Ursula Taborsky fra Arche Noah er nest til venstre på bildet fra min spiselige (skogs)hage.
English: During 17th-19th July I was happy to be able to return the hospitality given by KVANN’s sister organisation Arche Noah (Austrian Seed Savers) during my 2 trips there in 2017 and January 2020 just before COVID hit (see https://www.edimentals.com/blog/?s=arche+noah)
This was in connection with an Erasmus plus education program in which Arche Noah education are visiting various places in Europe to learn more about perennial vegetables and forest gardening! We visited each of my 3 gardens: The Edible Garden, Væres Venners Community Garden and the Onion Garden Chicago at the Ringve Botanical Garden.
We were joined by Guri Bugge, Mette Theisen and Judit Fehér from KVANN’s board (picture). Ursula Taborsky from Arche Noah is second left in the picture from my Edible (Forest) Garden.

RINGVE OPEN DAY 2024

There were some 1,500 people who came along to Sunday’s Open Day at the Ringve Botanical Garden and as usual KVANN Trøndelag (Norwegian Seed Savers; kvann.no) had a stand where a wide selection of perennial vegetables could be bought and a 130 variety salad could be sampled, mostly perennials! It was non-stop for us 3 on the stand from the start at 11 am and many plants found new homes in the course of the day. Many members of KVANN joined us in the course of the day.
Thanks to Meg and Elizabeth for helping on the stand once again! 

I’d previously agreed to lead a group around the Onion Garden Chicago from the Regionalt Nytteveksttreff i Trondheim which was organised that weekend. I’d never seen so many people in the onion garden before as there was also a large group of people, many with insect nets, on a Humlevandring (walk around the garden learning about bumble bees organised by La Humla Suse). It turned out that the Alliums were attracting the largest concentrations and number of species, so we had to events together in the garden! FUN!!
Nyttevekst Treff

Encouraging dandelions

I’ve changed full circle from the days when I fought against the dandelions to nowadays actively encouraging them in my perennial beds as they will be my most important veg all winter when we eat them every day (digging the roots for forcing like chicory before the first hard frosts). They fill all the gaps between my perennial edibles on the beds in the video and provide food for a range of insects and birds (directly feeding on the seeds and indirectly picking off the insects). At the same time I’ve become a much happier person looking at the seed heads, representing hope rather than disASTER (get it? Dandelions are in the Asteraceae)!

Snow onions

A new video on my youtube channel, the wonderfully exclusive SNOW ONION from the China and the Himalaya https://youtu.be/5mOcQ4aUQVI
We’re back in the Onion Garden Chicago at the Ringve Botanical Garden in Trondheim, Norway on 10th May and the first Allium is in flower. It’s Allium humile, known as the snow onion (snøløk) and one of my favourites and one of the world’s most exclusive foods, known from the ethnobotanical literature to be wild collected both in Kashmir, where it has also been domesticated in kitchen gardens and sold in markets, and in the northernmost Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Before you ask, I have no idea where you can get hold of seed or plants – my plants are sterile (no seed) – an exceptionally rare edimental (the garden website is here https://www.ntnu.edu/museum/the-onion-garden)