Common Sunflower, Annual Sunflower, Mirasol

Helianthus annuus

Asteraceae

LC Easy

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterWater regularly during germination and early stem growth (1 inch/week). Drought tolerant once established, though consistent moisture yields larger blooms.

🗺️Zone2a - 11b

📏Height5-12 feet

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

Sweet Basil, Common Basil, Genovese Basil, Great Basil

Ocimum basilicum

Lamiaceae

LC Easy

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterWater when the top 1-2 inches of soil are dry. Avoid overhead watering to prevent foliar diseases like downy mildew.

🗺️Zone10a - 11b (Perennial); Annual elsewhere

📏Height12-24 inches (30-60 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7.5

Sweet Corn, Sugar Corn, Table Corn

Zea mays

Poaceae

LC Moderate

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterCritical watering during silking and tassel emergence (1.5 inches/week); drought stress at silking causes missing kernels.

🗺️Zone2a-11b

📏Height5-8 feet (150-240 cm)

Ideal pH5.8 – 7

Sweet Pea, Garden Sweetpea

Lathyrus odoratus

Fabaceae

LC Moderate ⚠️ Highly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterMaintain consistent root-zone moisture; water deeply at the base early in the day to prevent powdery mildew spores from germinating on foliage.

🗺️Zone2a - 11b (Annual)

📏Height6-8 feet

Ideal pH6.5 – 7.5

Sweet Potato, Camote, Kumara

Ipomoea batatas

Convolvulaceae

LC Easy

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterProvide moderate, consistent moisture early in the season. Taper off watering 2-3 weeks before harvest to prevent root splitting and decay.

🗺️Zone9a-11b

📏Height0.5-1 feet (15-30 cm)

Ideal pH5.5 – 6.5

Sweet Woodruff, Master of the Woods, Waldmeister, Sweet-scented Bedstraw

Galium odoratum

Rubiaceae

LC Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunPartial Shade, Full Shade

💧WaterMaintain even moisture; foliage may scorch or enter premature summer dormancy if soil dries out completely.

🗺️Zone4a-8b

📏Height6-12 inches (15-30 cm)

Ideal pH5.5 – 7

Swiss Chard, Silverbeet, Rainbow Chard, Mangold

Beta vulgaris

Amaranthaceae

LC Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterConsistent moisture (1 inch per week); avoid soil drying out to keep stalks crisp and prevent premature bolting.

🗺️Zone2a-11b

📏Height1-2 feet (30-60 cm)

Ideal pH6 – 7

Switchgrass, Tall Panic Grass, Prairie Panic Grass

Panicum virgatum

Poaceae

LC Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterDeep, infrequent watering during establishment; thrives on natural rainfall thereafter.

🗺️Zone3a-9b

📏Height3-6 feet (90-180 cm)

Ideal pH5.5 – 7.5

Threadleaf Coreopsis, Threadleaf Tickseed, Whorled Tickseed

Coreopsis verticillata

Asteraceae

LC Easy

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterLow; highly drought-adapted once established. Water only in prolonged summer droughts.

🗺️Zone3a-9b

📏Height1.5-2.5 feet (45-75 cm)

Ideal pH5.5 – 7.2

Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Solanaceae

LC Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun

💧WaterDeep water 1-2 inches per week. Avoid wetting foliage to prevent fungal diseases.

🗺️Zone9-11 (Perennial), Grown as Annual in 2-8

📏Height3-10 feet (Indeterminate)

Ideal pH6 – 6.8

Tuberous Begonia, Tuberhybrida Begonia

Begonia tuberhybrida

Begoniaceae

NE Moderate ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunPartial Shade, Full Shade

💧WaterMaintain evenly moist potting medium; water at the soil level to avoid wetting foliage and crown, which incites fungal rot.

🗺️Zone9a-11b

📏Height1-1.5 feet (30-45 cm)

Ideal pH5.5 – 6.5

Garden Tulip, Didier's Tulip

Tulipa gesneriana

Liliaceae

LC Easy ⚠️ Mildly Toxic

☀️SunFull Sun, Partial Sun

💧WaterWater thoroughly after planting in autumn to promote root establishment. Provide moderate moisture during active spring growth, then withhold irrigation completely once foliage begins to senesce in summer.

🗺️Zone3a - 8b

📏Height1-2 feet

Ideal pH6 – 7.2