The Hawaiian Upland Tropics

Within the United States and Canada, this region occurs only in Hawaii over 2000m/6600 feet, although worldwide it is an important climate type. Please note that I have little experience in this area and cannot say with certainty just how high in the upland tropics these crops will grow. No doubt some of the other perennial vegetables profiled in this book will also succeed in the upland tropics.

Perennial in the Upland Tropics zone:

Allium ampeloprasum perennial sweet leek

Allium cepa aggregatum shallot

Allium fistulosum Welsh onion

Allium tuberosum garlic chives

Arracacia xanthorhiza arracacha

Asparagus officinalis asparagus

Basella alba Malabar spinach

Beta vulgaris maritima sea beet

Brassica oleracea acephala tropical tree kale

Brassica oleracea alboglabra Gai Lon

Canna edulis achira

Carica pentaphylla babaco papaya

Cicorium intybus chicory (some cultivars)

Colocasia esculenta taro (roots slow to develop)

Cucurbita ficifolia Malabar gourd

Cyperus esculentus sativa chufa

Dioscorea alata white yam

Dioscorea bulbifera air potato

Erythrina edulis basul

Ipomoea batatas sweet potato

Nasturtium officinale watercress

Oenanthe javanica water celery

Oxalis tuberose oca

Petasites japonicus fuki

Phaseolus coccineus runner bean

Phaseolus lunatus Lima bean

Phyllostachys spp. running bamboos

Physalis peruviana goldenberry

Phytolacca americana pokeweed

Psophocarpus tetragonobolus winged bean

Rheum rubarbarum rhubarb

Rumex acetosa French sorrel

Rumex acetosa ‘Profusion’ sorrel

Rumex acetosella sheep sorrel

Rumex scutatus silver shield sorrel

Saccharum edule pitpit

Scorzonera hispanica scorzonera

Smallianthus sonchifolia yacon

Solanum muricatum pepino melon

Solanum tuberosum & spp. potato

Stachys sieboldii Chinese artichoke

Taraxacum officinale dandelion

Tropaeolum tuberousum ‘Ken Aslett’ mashua

Tropaeolum tuberousum mashua

Ullucus tuberousus ulluco

Can be grown as an annual in the Upland Tropics zone:

Physalis pruinosa ground cherry