A garden that feeds you year after year is both a joy and a time-saver. Perennial vegetables return each season with minimal effort, offering a steady harvest of delicious leaves, stems, flowers, and roots.
They also bring texture, color, and character to your landscape, making it as beautiful as it is productive. Many are naturally pest-resistant and even help improve the soil. Once planted, they settle in and reward you for seasons to come.
Let’s explore 14 easy-to-grow perennial vegetables that can fill your garden with flavor and charm.
#1 Hosta Montana
This striking leafy plant isn’t just for shade gardens; it’s also a tasty addition to your plate. Harvest the young shoots in spring and sauté them lightly with a splash of soy sauce and sesame oil.
They have a mild, asparagus-like flavor that works well in stir-fries.
Plant them in moist, rich soil and water regularly to keep the leaves lush. They thrive in partial to full shade, making them perfect for spots where other edibles might struggle.
#2 Rhubarb
Rhubarb’s large, vibrant stalks are as beautiful as they are flavorful. The deep red stems pop in any garden bed, brightening shady corners and sunny patches alike.
Give it well-drained soil and a sunny location for the best growth. Harvest the stalks in spring and early summer for pies, jams, or sauces. Avoid eating the leaves, as they are toxic.
#3 Egyptian Walking Onion
This quirky onion earns its name by producing clusters of small bulbs at the top of its stalks that eventually topple over and take root nearby. You’ll have an ever-expanding onion patch without lifting a finger.
Use both the greens and the small top bulbs in cooking for a fresh onion flavor. Plant in well-drained soil and full sun for best results. Keep them lightly watered during dry spells to maintain healthy growth.
#4 Ramps
Ramps bring a wild, garlicky-onion flavor to your dishes and also produce delicate, pale pink flowers in spring. They grow well in shaded, moist woodland areas or in rich garden soil with plenty of mulch.
Water consistently to keep the soil damp but not soggy. Harvest the leaves early in the season for the best flavor. Leave some plants in place to ensure they return year after year.
#5 Asparagus
Asparagus is a garden classic that rewards patience. Once established, it produces tender spears every spring for decades.
Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and give it room to spread. Avoid harvesting in the first year so the plant can build strength. Mulch around the base to retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.
#6 Jerusalem Artichoke
Also known as sunchokes, these sunflower relatives offer both cheerful yellow blooms and edible tubers. Plant them in full sun where they have space to spread, as they can be vigorous growers.
Harvest the knobby tubers in late fall after the flowers fade. They have a nutty, sweet flavor and are delicious roasted or sautéed. Keep them watered during hot, dry weather for plump tubers.
#7 Horseradish
Horseradish is hardy and nearly indestructible once it takes root. Plant it in full sun or partial shade, ideally in a spot where it can spread without crowding other plants.
Dig up the roots in late fall for the best flavor and pungency. Grate them fresh to make a zesty condiment. Be sure to leave a portion of the root in the ground to grow again next year.
#8 Good King Henry
This old-fashioned perennial offers two harvests in one plant. In spring, pick the thick shoots and prepare them like asparagus. Later, collect the arrow-shaped leaves and cook them like spinach.
It thrives in sunny to partially shaded areas with rich, well-drained soil. Regular harvesting encourages fresh growth throughout the season.
#9 Chinese Artichoke
Compact and low-maintenance, Chinese Artichoke produces crisp, spiral-shaped tubers with a mild, nutty flavor. Plant them in loose, fertile soil to make harvesting easier.
They grow best in full sun but tolerate light shade. Harvest the tubers in late autumn, after the foliage dies back. Store them in a cool, moist place for freshness.
#10 Purple Sprouting Broccoli
With its vibrant purple florets and sweet flavor, this broccoli variety is a standout in the garden. In the right spot, it can act like a perennial, producing fresh florets for months.
Plant in fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of sun. Harvest regularly to encourage new growth. The color fades when cooked, but the flavor remains rich and delicious.
#11 American Groundnut
This vining beauty offers burgundy flowers and several edible parts, including starchy tubers that are a great potato alternative. It thrives in moist soil, making it ideal for rain gardens or damp spots.
Provide a trellis or fence for the vines to climb. Harvest the tubers in late fall after the plant dies back. They store well in a cool, dry place.
#12 Sorrel
Sorrel forms a lush mound of tangy, lemon-flavored leaves that brighten salads, soups, and sauces. Plant it in full sun to partial shade and keep the soil moist for the best growth.
It’s a fast grower, so regular harvesting will keep it producing fresh leaves. Trim back flower stalks to encourage more leafy growth. It’s one of the first greens to appear in spring.
#13 Oca
Oca produces colorful, tangy tubers that are a delight to harvest. It grows well in sunny locations with rich, loose soil. Water regularly, especially during dry periods, to prevent the tubers from becoming woody.
You can also grow Oca in containers for easy care and harvest. Wait until after the first frost to dig up the tubers for peak flavor.
#14 Tree Kale
Tree Kale produces a steady supply of tender leaves that work well in salads, sautés, and smoothies. It can grow quite tall, adding vertical interest to your garden.
Plant it in full sun with nutrient-rich soil for the best yields. Keep it well-watered, especially in hot weather. Regular picking encourages new leaf growth and keeps the plant producing.