50 Top perennials from plants for a future
The digital book is $9 USD (approximately £6.50 GBP and €8 Euros)
[PDF only]Current interest in forest or woodland garden designs reflects an awareness that permanent mixed plantings are inherently more sustainable than annual monocultures. They safeguard and enrich soil ecosystems, enable plants to form cooperative combinations, make use of layers above and below the soil, and create benign microclimates which soften winds and recycle the rain. The challenge is productivity: how can yields of useful foods and other useful materials be maximised? The latest book from Plants For A Future is a resource for discovering some of the answers.
Edible Perennials provides detailed information, attractively presented, on 50 selected perennial plants, based on practical experience and observation, plus a wide range of reputable sources. All these plants yield edible produce: roots, tubers, seeds, oils, fruits, stems, flowers, or leaves, and many have other useful properties, which are also described. For each entry, the descriptive text is augmented by summary information panels covering various attributes such as natural habitat, cultivation needs, the nutritional value of edible parts, and potential uses within woodland garden designs.
We have included some more unusual species that may not be well known to growers interested in trying out different food crops and new designs for their plots. The book also has a reference table of the key characteristics of nearly 400 other perennials, to help readers to identify plants that meet their particular requirements.
Contents
Perennials and Plant Diversity
PFAF and Permaculture
Food and Medicine
Plant Matrix
Achira, Indian shot Canna indica
Arracacha Arracacia xanthorrhiza
Artichoke Chinese, Stachys affinis
Artichoke Globe Cynara scolymus
Asparagus Asparagus officinalis
Bellflower Scented Campanula versicolor
Breadroot Psoralea esculenta
Chicory, Radicchio Cichorium intybus
Collards Brassica oleracea viridis
Coltsfoot Sweet Petasites japonicus
Common Day Lily Hemerocallis fulva
Amur Day Lily Hemerocallis middendorffii
Duck Potato, Arrowhead Sagittaria latifolia
Earthnut Pea, Lathyrus tuberosus
Fennel Sweet Foeniculum vulgare
Goldenberry, Peruvian groundcherry Physalis peruviana
Good King Henry Chenopodium bonus-henricus
Ground Nut Apios americana
Hog Peanut Amphicarpaea bracteata
Maca Lepidium meyenii
Mallow Marsh Althaea officinalis
Mallow Hollyhock Malva alcea
Mallow Musk Malva moschata
Mountain Rye Secale strictum
Nettle Stinging Urtica dioica
Oca Oxalis tuberosa
Ostrich Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris
Potato Sweet Ipomoea batatas
Reed Common Phragmites australis
Reed Mace Small, Cattail Typha angustifolia
Reedmace, Bullrush Typha latifolia
Rhubarb Rheum rhaponticum
Rocket Turkish Bunias orientalis
Scorzonera French Reichardia picroides
Sea Kale Crambe maritima
Skirret Sium sisarum
Solomon’s Seal Polygonatum multiflorum
Sorrel Rumex acetosa
Spinach New Zealand Tetragonia tetragonioides
Strawberry Alpine Fragaria vesca ‘Semperflorens’
Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
Tiger Nut Cyperus esculentus
Udo Aralia cordata
Violet Sweet Viola odorata
Wall Rocket Diplotaxis muralis
Watercress Nasturtium officinale
Water Dropwort Oenanthe javanica
Yacon Strawberry Smallanthus sonchifolius
Yam Chinese Dioscorea polystachya
Yampa Perideridia gairdneri
Additional Plants Matrix