Mediterranean and Mild Subtropical: Southern and Coastal California

Southern and central California has a mild climate well suited to perennial vegetables. This region corresponds with USDA Zones 8–10 and Sunset Zones 7–9, 14, 15, 16, and 18–25.

Perennial in all of the Mediterranean and Mild Subtropical zone:

Allium ampeloprasum perennial sweet leek

Allium cepa aggregatum shallot

Allium cepa aggregatum potato onion

Allium cepa proliferum walking onion

Allium fistulosum Welsh onion

Allium tuberosum garlic chives

Arundinaria gigantea canebrake bamboo

Asparagus officinalis asparagus

Asphodeline lutea yellow asphodel

Atriplex halimus saltbush

Bambusa spp. clumping bamboos

Beta vulgaris maritima sea beet

Brassica oleracea wild cabbage

Brassica oleracea acephala ‘Tree Collards’, ‘Walking Stick Kale’

Brassica oleracea acephala tropical tree kale

Brassica oleracea acephala ‘Western Front’ perennial kale

Brassica oleracea alboglabra gai lon

Brassica oleracea botrytis perennial broccoli, including ‘9 Star’

Brassica oleracea ramosa branching bush kale, including ‘Dorbentons’

Bunias orientalis Turkish rocket

Canna edulis achira

Cedrella sinensis fragrant spring tree

Chenopodium bonus-henricus good king Henry

Cicorium intybus chicory

Cnidoscolus palmeri & bull nettles

Colocasia esculenta ‘Celery Stem’ taro

Colocasia esculenta taro, cocoyam, eddo, dasheen

Crambe maritima sea kale

Cucurbita ficifolia Malabar gourd

Cynara scolymus globe artichoke

Cyperus esculentus sativa chufa

Dioscorea bulbifera air potato

Diplotaxis muralis & sylvetta arugula

Helianthus tuberosa sunchoke

Hemerocallis daylily

Malva moschata musk mallow

Nasturtium officinale watercress

Nelumbo nucifera water lotus

Oenanthe javanica water celery

Opuntia spp. spineless nopale cactus

Phyllostachys spp. running bamboos

Physalis peruviana goldenberry

Phytolacca americana pokeweed

Polygonatum biflorum canaliculatum giant Solomon’s seal

Qiongzhuea tumidissinoda running bamboo

Rumex acetosa French sorrel

Rumex acetosa ‘Profusion’ sorrel

Rumex acetosella sheep sorrel

Rumex scutatus silver shield sorrel

Sagittaria latifolia arrowhead

Sagittaria sinensis Chinese arrowhead

Sasa kurilensis chishima-zasa bamboo

Scorzonera hispanica scorzonera

Semiarundinaria fastuosa temple bamboo

Stachys sieboldii Chinese artichoke

Taraxacum officinale dandelion

Urtica dioica nettles

Perennial in some of the Mediterranean and Mild Subtropical zone or with protection:

Abelmoschus manihot edible hibiscus (as dieback perennial)

Allium ursinum ramson

Alternanthera sissoo sissoo spinach

Apios americana groundnut

Aralia cordata udo

Arracacia xanthorhiza arracacha

Basella alba Malabar spinach (as dieback perennial)

Capsicum annum ‘Perennial Capsicum’ sweet pepper

Carica pentaphylla babaco papaya

Cnidoscolus chayamansa ‘Stingless’ chaya (as dieback perennial)

Coccinia grandis ‘Sterile’ perennial cucumber (as dieback perennial)

Dioscorea alata white yam

Dioscorea esculenta asiatic lesser yam

Dioscorea trifida cush cush yam

Dolichos lablab hyacinth bean

Eleocharis dulcis water chestnut

Gigantochloa spp. clumping bamboos

Gynura crepioides Okinawa spinach

Hibiscus acetosella cranberry hibiscus (as dieback perennial)

Ipomoea aquatica water spinach

Ipomoea batatas sweet potato

Laportaea Canadensis wood nettle

Levisticum officinale lovage

Momordica charantia bitter gourd

Moringa oleifera moringa (as dieback perennial)

Moringa stenopetala moringa (as dieback perennial)

Musa x paradisica ‘Rajapuri’ banana

Musa x paradisica plantain, banana (only in warmest areas)

Nastus elatus clumping bamboo

Oxalis tuberosa oca

Phaseolus coccineus runner bean

Phaseolus lunatus Lima bean

Phaseolus polysantus cache bean

Psophocarpus ‘Day Length Neutral’ winged bean

Rheum rubarbarum rhubarb

Saccharum edule pitpit

Sauropus androgynous katuk (as dieback perennial)

Sechium edule chayote

Sium sisarum skirret

Smallianthus sonchifolia yacon

Solanum melongena & spp. eggplant

Solanum muricatum pepino melon

Solanum tuberosum & spp. potato

Tetragonia tetragonioides New Zealand spinach

Trichostigma octandrum basket vine (as dieback perennial)

Tropaeolum tuberousum ‘Ken Aslett’ mashua

Ullucus tuberousus ulluco

Xanthosoma brasiliense belembe

Xanthosoma saggitifolium tannier, yautia, malanga

Xanthosoma violaceum violet-stem taro

Can be grown as annuals in the Mediterranean and Mild Subtropical zone:

Carica papaya papaya (in warmest areas)

Lycopersicon spp. tomato

Manihot esculenta cassava

Physalis pruinosa ground cherry