Horticulture Magazine

Here’s An A-Z List Of 59 Leafy Green Vegetables To Grow

a variety of different green leafy vegetables including broccoli, cabbage and lettuce all lying next to each other
By CHRIS LEE
Chris Lee, MA - Gardening Writer

Chris is a gardening writer and nature enthusiast. He graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2022 with an MA in Psychology. Chris works with the Leeds Green Action Society, helping their food cooperative by growing various fruit and vegetables on their two allotments in Hyde Park, Leeds.

 / Updated October 9th, 2024
Reviewed By COLIN SKELLY
Colin Skelly, MHort (RHS), MCIHort - Horticulturist

Colin is a Horticulturist and Horticultural Consultant with experience in a range of practical and managerial roles across heritage, commercial and public horticulture. He holds the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture award and has a particular interest in horticultural ecology and naturalistic planting for habitat and climate resilience.

 / Meets Our Editorial Guidelines
Contributions From ALAN TITCHMARSH MBE
Alan Titchmarsh MBE, Horticultural Broadcaster

Alan Titchmarsh is a Broadcaster, Author and renowned Horticulturist with 50 years of industry experience. He is recognisable from several TV shows, including Ground Force, Love Your Garden and Britain’s Best Gardens - and written many books, including The Gardener’s Almanac and My Secret Garden. Alan studied at Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Kew Royal Botanic Gardens.

IN THIS GUIDE

Leafy greens go great with so many dishes, whether it’s a tasty salad of mixed lettuce and rocket leaves, or some spinach stirred through a curry to add flavour and colour.

While there are common leaves you’re probably used to, there are tons of others that you may not even have heard of.

“In my garden, I grow early potatoes, onions, climbing French beans, lettuce, spring onions, asparagus, just to name a few,” shares Alan Titchmarsh, Garden Broadcaster.

In this article we’ve rounded up an exciting array of leafy greens for you to try, so whether you’re looking for a specific one or just looking to learn what options are out there, read on.

Here are 59 exciting leafy greens for you to try: who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favourite.

1) Amaranth

amaranth with purple flowers and foliage growing outside in front of a green shrub
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Amaranthus
  • COMMON NAME(S): Amaranth / Amour Flower
  • HARDINESS RATING: H2
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Although it can’t be eaten raw, this vegetable is similar to spinach when boiled and is great with butter.

Once sacred to the Aztecs, it’s now well-loved for its rich taste.1Amaranth – May Grain of the Month. (n.d.). The Whole Grains Council. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://wholegrainscouncil.org/whole-grains-101/grain-month-calendar/amaranth-may-grain-month

2) Anise Hyssop

purple flowering anise hyssop growing outside in a field
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Agastache foeniculum (Pursh) Kuntze
  • COMMON NAME(S): Anise Hyssop
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

As the name suggests, this plant has a liquorice flavour.

You can eat the flowers and the leaves can be eaten cooked or raw.

3) Beet Greens

Beta vulgaris growing from the soily growing outside
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Beta vulgaris
  • COMMON NAME(S): Common Beet
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Similar flavour profile to a lot of other leafy greens but a little sweeter, and with a distinctive red hue like the beetroot fruit.

4) Bellflower

purple bellflowers growing outside
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Campanula
  • COMMON NAME(S): Bellflower
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Although Bellflower is not technically a vegetable, it works well as a garnish and is a point of interest if foraged with your own hand.

5) Black Mustard

yellow flowers of a black mustard plant growing in a field against a blue sky
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica nigra
  • COMMON NAME(S): Black mustard / grocer’s mustard
  • HARDINESS RATING: H6
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

You’ve probably tried mustard and maybe use mustard seeds in your cooking, but you can eat the leaves of the plant too!

“I grow mustard as a salad crop as it adds a nice peppery tang to salads,” shares Master Horticulturist Colin Skelly.

“Watch out if the crop runs to seed as it will become very hot to taste!”

Black mustard leaves go great in salads.

6) Bomdong

bomdong plants that have been sown in a garden bed growing next to each other
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Bomdong
  • COMMON NAME(S): Spring Cabbage
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Spring / Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

An early spring cabbage, Bomdong is often used in Korean cooking as a component of kimchi.

7) Borage

borage plant with lots of small blue flowers and green foliage growing outdoors
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Borago officinalis
  • COMMON NAME(S): Borage / Tailwort
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

You can forage borage – isn’t that fun to say? – in spring and summer.

The leaves have a delicate, cucumber-like taste and go well with salads.

8) Cabbage

two fully grown cabbages ready to be harvest with more of them growing behind
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica oleracea
  • COMMON NAME(S): Cabbage
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5 (changes with variety)
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

There are many types of cabbage, and it’s perhaps the most famous brassica.

You’ll likely already know how versatile they are and how tasty they can be when cooked well.

9) Carrot

several carrots growing in the soil with long green stems
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Daucus carota
  • COMMON NAME(S): Carrots / Wild Carrots
  • HARDINESS RATING: H2
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Alkaline / neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

In the same family as coriander, parsley and other herbs, it’s obvious why carrot greens are on this list.

10) Celtuce

celtuce plants with long green leaves growing from the ground
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Lactuca sativa
  • COMMON NAME(S): Common Lettuce / Celtuce
  • HARDINESS RATING: H2
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

It’s usually the stems that are used in cooking, but the leaves of celtuce are good too.2Anderson, P. (2019, October 12). Cooking with celtuce: the supermodel of vegetables. The Guardian. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/oct/13/cooking-with-celtuce-the-supermodel-of-vegetables

Just check that they’re fresh enough to use, as often the time taken to import can make them wilt.

11) Chard

several chard plants with orange, green and yellow stems growing outdoors in a raised garden bed
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens
  • COMMON NAME(S): Chard / Swiss Chard
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Spring / Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

A classic leafy green, with a characteristic red stem and red-purple colouration in the leaves.

12) Charlock

close-up of a yellow flowering charlock plant
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Sinapis arvensis
  • COMMON NAME(S): Charlock / Corn Mustard
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Spring / Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Charlock is also called field mustard or wild mustard, this but it isn’t eaten as commonly these days.

It was used as a famine food during the Great Famine of Ireland.

13) Chaya

chaya plant with star-shaped leaves growing outdoors
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Cnidoscolus chayamansa
  • COMMON NAME(S): Chaya / Tree Spinach
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3/H4
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

It’s recommended to boil this leafy green before eating, as the raw leaves are not ready to eat.3Chaya – High Nutrition Perennial. (n.d.). US Aid. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00K93C.pdf

14) Chicory

chicory plants growing from the soil in the ground in a vegetable bed outdoors
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Cichorium intybus
  • COMMON NAME(S): Chicory
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Chicory is used for flavourings and you can even make a coffee-like drink from the ground plant.

The leaves are edible too.

15) Choy Sum

choy sum leaves with yellow flowers growing next to each other
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica parachinensis
  • COMMON NAME(S): Bok Choy / Chinese Cabbage
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Also called Chinese flowering cabbage, the leaves of this plant are popular in Chinese cooking – especially in stir-fries.

16) Collard Greens

collard plant with long big leaves growing from soil in the ground
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica oleracea var. viridis
  • COMMON NAME(S): Collard
  • HARDINESS RATING: H4
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Spring
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

A mainstay of southern US cuisine, collard greens are similar to cabbage and kale.

The tough stem is best removed before cooking.

17) Dandelion

dandelion plants with yellow flowers growing amongst grass and nettles
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Taraxacum officinalis
  • COMMON NAME(S): Dandelion
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Although dandelions are considered a weed, their leaves can be used in all sorts of things.

They get more bitter as they age so prioritise young leaves for cooking.4Brooks Vinton, S. (2018, August 28). How to Eat Dandelions. FoodPrint. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://foodprint.org/blog/how-to-eat-dandelions/

18) Endive

young endive plants growing in the soil next to each other
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Cichorium endivia
  • COMMON NAME(S): Endive
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • SUNLIGHT: Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Endive is great raw or cooked.

Crispy raw endive works well in salads and the mellower flavour when cooked makes it a great garnish.

19) Escarole

close-up of escarole leaves growing in the sun
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Cichorium endivia ‘latifolium’
  • COMMON NAME(S): Escarole / Curly Endive
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • SUNLIGHT: Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

When eaten raw, escarole is similar to endive, and it also loses bitterness when cooked.

More common in Italian cooking than British.

20) Fennel

yellow flowering head of a fennel plant with other yellow flowers in the background
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Foeniculum vulgare
  • COMMON NAME(S): Common Fennel / Fennel
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

The fennel bulb is most commonly used in cooking, in fact, you’ll often buy it with the leaves removed, but the leaves are also tasty.

21) Gai Lan

big green leaves of gai lan plants growing outside in soil from the ground with trees and a blue sky in the background
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica oleracea 
  • COMMON NAME(S): Kai Lan / Chinese Broccoli / Gai Lan
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Gai lan is also known as Chinese broccoli and behaves in quite a similar way.

The stalks and florets are most commonly eaten but you can also eat the leaves.

22) Garden Cress

garden cress growing from the ground outside
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Lepidium sativum
  • COMMON NAME(S): Garden Cress
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Spring / Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay or loam; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Cress leaves may be tiny but they’re distinctly edible and pack a characteristically peppery punch.

23) Garden Nasturtium

orange and red flowering Nasturtium growing side by side in the ground outside
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Tropaeolum majus
  • COMMON NAME(S): Garden Nasturtium / Indian Cress
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

This plant’s name means ‘nose twister’ – a nod to the peppery punch they pack.

Its flowers, leaves and seeds are all edible.

24) Garden Sorrel

garden sorrel growing outside in the sunlight
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Rumex scutatus
  • COMMON NAME(S): Garden Sorrel / French Sorrel
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Spicy when raw and mellower when cooked, sorrel goes great as a garnish.

25) Gynura

close-up of gynura leaves with purple and green foliage
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Gynura aurantiaca
  • COMMON NAME(S): Gynura / Purple Velvet Plant
  • HARDINESS RATING: H1B
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Winter
  • SUNLIGHT: Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Loam; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Also known as longevity spinach, these leaves can be eaten raw, made into tea, and more.

26) Iceberg Lettuce

harvested iceberg lettuce cut in half on a chopping board with a tomato behind it
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Lactuca sativa ‘Iceberg’
  • COMMON NAME(S): Iceberg Lettuce / Crisphead
  • HARDINESS RATING: H2
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Does the iceberg lettuce need any introduction?

These little leaves find their way into pretty much every salad in the country.

27) Jersey Cabbage

cabbages and other garden vegetables growing next to each other outdoors
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica oleracea longata
  • COMMON NAME(S): Jersey Cabbage
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

This variety of cabbage is native to the Channel Islands, hence the name.

Eat raw or cooked as with any cabbage.

28) Kale

a close-up of curly kale leaves
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica oleracea
  • COMMON NAME(S): Kale
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

A favourite amongst many, kale has made quite a reputation for itself in recent years.

It’s easy to see why though: it’s delicious.

29) Katuk

a katuk plant, Sauropus androgynus, growing outdoors
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Sauropus androgynus
  • COMMON NAME(S): Katuk
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Popular in Asia cooked or raw, katuk is one to get to know due to the tastiness of its leaves.5Katuk. (2015). FGCU Food Forest: Plant Database. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.fgcu.edu/cas/communityimpact/foodforest/files/katuk-ada.pdf

30) Komatsuna

purple and green-leaved komatsuna growing outdoors in front of other green foliage
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica rapa var. perviridis
  • COMMON NAME(S): Komatsuna / Japanese Mustard Spinach
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Japanese mustard spinach is a brassica variety that’s especially popular in Japan and Taiwan.

It lends itself to a wide variety of dishes.

31) Lagos Spinach

lagos spinach flowers with white and pink heads growing outdoors in front of a garden path and some trees
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Celosia argentea var. argentea
  • COMMON NAME(S): Efo Shoko / Lagos Spinach
  • HARDINESS RATING: H2
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Efo Shoko is a leafy green that’s especially popular in, you guessed it, Nigerian cuisine.

32) Lamb’s Quarters

leafy foliage of Chenopodium album
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Chenopodium album
  • COMMON NAME(S): Lamb’s Quarters / Bacon Weed / Common Goosefoot
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Another plant that’s considered a weed in a lot of circles, lamb’s quarters, or white goosefoot, is edible if you rinse the powdery residue from the leaves.6Lamb’s Quarters and Orach. (2021, March 31). FoodPrint. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://foodprint.org/real-food/lambs-quarters/

33) Maca

harvested maca plant with lots of long leaves lying on the ground
  • BOTANICAL NAME: lepidium meyenii
  • COMMON NAME(S): Maca / Peruvian Ginseng
  • HARDINESS RATING: H6
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Maca leaves hail from South America and are best cooked before being consumed.

34) Malabar Spinach

Malabar Spinach plant with green and purple foliage growing outdoors
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Basella alba
  • COMMON NAME(S): Malabar Spinach / Ceylon Spinach
  • HARDINESS RATING: H1C
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

This variety can be eaten raw, boiled, steamed, fried and more.

35) Mallow

mallow with pinky-purple and white flowers and small green leaves growing outdoors
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Malva sylvestris
  • COMMON NAME(S): Mallow / Common Mallow
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

The seeds and leaves of mallow are edible, making this a firm favourite for foragers.

36) Moringa

Moringa oleifera with white flowers growing in front of some green trees outside
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Moringa oleifera
  • COMMON NAME(S): Ben Nut / Ben Oil Plant / Moringa
  • HARDINESS RATING: H2
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Clay, loam, sand; Acidic / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

You can eat moringa leaves raw as well as in a range of other ways.

37) Musk Mallow

Malva moschata with white flowers growing outdoors
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Malva moschata
  • COMMON NAME(S): Musk Mallow
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Closely related to mallow as the name suggests, this species’ leaves can also be eaten raw or cooked.

38) Mustard Greens

mustard plant with yellow flowers and green foliage
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica juncea
  • COMMON NAME(S): Chinese Mustard / Mustard Greens
  • HARDINESS RATING: H6
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Even though other uses of the plant are most common, boiling up a bunch of mustard greens is a tasty addition to any plate.

39) Napa Cabbage

hundreds of napa cabbages growing outdoors in rows in a cabbage field
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis
  • COMMON NAME(S): Napa Cabbage / Celery Cabbage
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

This cabbage grows frequently in China and is commonplace in their cuisine, and can often be found in imported vegetable aisles.

40) Orange Daylily

orange daylily with its petals and leaves covered in water droplets
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Hemerocallis fulva
  • COMMON NAME(S): Common Orange Daylily / Eve’s Thread
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

While the most common part to eat is the flower, if you cut the outer leaves off, you can eat the more pleasant lily leaves inside.

41) Pak Choi

pak choi plants with big leaves growing from soil in the ground outside
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis
  • COMMON NAME(S): Bok Choy / Pak Choi
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

This leaf is a good gateway ingredient when learning to cook Asian cuisine.

It’s readily available, easy to cook and, most importantly, delicious.

42) Palsingat

big round leaves of a palsingat with tiny white flowers at the centre
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Claytonia perfoliata
  • COMMON NAME(S): Miner’s Lettuce / Palsingat / Cuban Spinach
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Spring / Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

This plant has lots of names: miner’s lettuce, spring beauty, winter purslane and others.

It was eaten by miners to prevent scurvy and can be used in cooking, but is not as flavourful as some greens.7Miner’s lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata). (n.d.). RikenMon’s Nature Guide. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.nature-guide.info/display/details.aspx?lang=en&id=1249

43) Pokeweed

pokeweed plant with black berries on yellow stems growing outdoors
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Phytolacca americana
  • COMMON NAME(S): Pokeweed / American Nightshade
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk or loam; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Be careful when eating pokeweed, as its berries should not be consumed!8Pokeweed. (n.d.). WebMD. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-220/pokeweed

44) Quinoa

quinoa crop with brown and red flowering heads growing outside in a field
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Chenopodium quinoa
  • COMMON NAME(S): Puinoa
  • HARDINESS RATING: H4
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Quinoa is most famous as a grain, but the leaves are edible as well.

45) Rapini

Brassica ruvo plant ready to be harvested growing outside
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica ruvo
  • COMMON NAME(S): Rapini / Italian Broccoli
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

This plant has bitter leaves which make it less popular than some other greens, but the leaves, buds and stems are all edible.

46) Red Cabbage

close-up of a red cabbage with purple foliage
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica oleracea var. capitata f. rubra
  • COMMON NAME(S): Red Cabbage
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

You’ve probably seen red cabbage pickled in jars.

This leafy ‘green’ is versatile and tasty, despite the fact it isn’t actually green.

47) Red Leaf Lettuce

curly red leaf lettuce with deep red leaves growing outside
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Lactuca sativa
  • COMMON NAME(S): Red Leaf Lettuce
  • HARDINESS RATING: H2
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Another popular lettuce with many cultivars, you’ll recognise this veggie from supermarket salad mixes.

48) Rocket

garden rocket growing from the ground in soil outside
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Eruca vesicaria subsp. sativa
  • COMMON NAME(S): Garden rocket
  • HARDINESS RATING: H4
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Rocket’s peppery quality makes it a great addition to salads and dishes where you want to bring a bit of gentle heat and fire.

49) Romaine Lettuce

young romaine lettuce plants growing from the ground outdoors side by side
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Lactuca sativa var. longifolia
  • COMMON NAME(S): Romaine Lettuce / Cos
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Romaine lettuce, also called cos, is yet another popular lettuce variety that you’ll find in salads and other dishes.

50) Savoy Cabbage

close-up of a savoy cabbage with various shades of green on its leaves
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica oleracea var. sabauda
  • COMMON NAME(S): Savoy Cabbage
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer / Autumn
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Savoy can be eaten raw or cooked, although it’s definitely most popular cooked.

Boil or fry up with a bit of butter, and you’ll love it – I promise!

51) Shiso

leaves of a shiso plant growing outside
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Perilla frutescens var. crispa
  • COMMON NAME(S):Beefsteak Plant / Shiso / Curly Perilla
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

Perilla frutescens is popular in Korean food.

52) Smooth Sowthistle

smooth sowthistle with a yellow flower growing outdoors in soil
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Sonchus oleraceus
  • COMMON NAME(S): Common Sowthistle / Hare’s Coleswart
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

If you’re foraging, smooth sowthistle is a good thing to look out for as it’s a safe thing to eat.9Bonetto, D. (2020, May 12). How to identify and use sow thistle, the perfect edible weed. Wild Plants: Foraging, Food, Art and Culture. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.diegobonetto.com/blog/how-to-identify-and-use-sowthistle-the-perfect-edible-weed

53) Spinach

a field of spinach growing outdoors in soil row by row
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Spinacia oleracea
  • COMMON NAME(S): Spinach
  • HARDINESS RATING: H4
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Sheltered

A plant that needs no introduction, raw spinach leaves are great in salads, and cooked spinach goes with anything.

54) Sweet Violet

purple flowering sweet violet with green foliage
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Viola odorata
  • COMMON NAME(S): Sweet violet / English Violet
  • HARDINESS RATING: H6
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Winter / Spring
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

You can eat the flowers and the leaves of the violet plant.

Like nasturtiums, it’s always intriguing to see a flower on your plate!

55) Tatsoi

the big round green leaves of a tatsoi plant growing from soil on the ground
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica rapa subsp. narinosa
  • COMMON NAME(S): Tatsoi / Rosette Pak Choi
  • HARDINESS RATING: H5
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Here’s another Asian variety of brassica, closely related to the popular pak choi.

These dark green leaves can be eaten raw or cooked.

56) Turnip

white turnips with big long leaves that have been harvested lying on top of soil outside in the sunlight
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Brassica rapa subsp. rapa
  • COMMON NAME(S): Turnip
  • HARDINESS RATING: H6
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Alkaline / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Everyone’s tried a turnip, usually with a roast, but did you know you could also eat the leaves?10Ware, M. (2017, May 18). Everything you need to know about turnip greens. Medical News Today. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/285961

Fry up with a bit of oil for the best taste.

57) Welsh Onion

cream flowering allium fistulosum growing in soil outside in front of green trees
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Allium fistulosum
  • COMMON NAME(S): Welsh Onion / Ciboul
  • HARDINESS RATING: H3
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

The leaves of the Welsh onion are edible raw or cooked and, as you might expect, have a gentle oniony flavour.

Great when you want something more subtle than actual onion.

58) Wild Leeks

leeks growing from the soil in the growing outside
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Allium porrum
  • COMMON NAME(S): Leek / Wild Leek / St. David’s Lily
  • HARDINESS RATING: H4
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Any soil type; Any pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

You can eat the leaves of a wild leek as well as the bit we’d usually consider the leaf.

Take care when harvesting as the plant has a long growth cycle that you can unintentionally disrupt.

59) Wild sorrel

wild sorrel plant with large green leaves growing in soil outside with other green plants around it
  • BOTANICAL NAME: Rumex acetosa
  • COMMON NAME(S): Sorrel / Wild sorrel
  • HARDINESS RATING: H7
  • FLOWERING SEASON(S): Summer
  • SUNLIGHT: Full Sun / Part Shade
  • SOIL PREFERENCE: Chalk, loam, sand; Acidic / Neutral pH
  • EXPOSURE: Exposed / Sheltered

Sorrel has a flavour slightly reminiscent of citrus, making it a great way to bring a fresh zesty dimension to salads and dishes when used as a garnish.

The 59 greens in this list are a great sampling of the leafy greens available, and we recommend investigating recipes for the ones that pique your interest.

Who knows – maybe you’ll find your new favourite ingredient!

References

Horticulture Magazine

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