25 Edible Perennials I Grow in My Desert Garden

Each season, I aim to add more edible perennials to my desert garden. Where I live, we have very hot summers and mild winters, so the challenge is finding perennial crops that can survive both summer and winter and still be worth the space. Over time, I’ve curated this list of 25 edible perennials that thrive in the hot climate of the Arizona desert, transforming my garden into an edible paradise.

Desert gardening can be challenging but finding the right crops makes it easier. Interested in growing herbs? Here you can learn more about 10 perennial herbs for hot summer climates

Why grow edible perennials?

Unlike annual plants, which complete their life cycle in one season and must be replanted, perennials can live for many years. This means more food with less effort and expense.

An added benefit is that once they are established, most perennials have little upkeep–usually only seasonal pruning and amending with compost. And finally, many edible perennials are high-value crops that can be grown for much less than they cost in the grocery store.

If you would like to learn more about the principles of successful desert gardening, my guide, “Desert Gardening: How to Grow Vegetables in a Hot, Dry Climate,” may be helpful.

Definition of edible perennial

Perennials are often defined in different ways. For this article, these are the criteria I’m using:

• True perennial: Comes back reliably for many years from the same plant.
• Tender perennial: Can live for multiple years in mild climates but may be damaged or killed by frost.
• Short-lived perennial: Can live for a few years but may decline or need replacing.
• Root/tuber perennial: Regrows from roots, rhizomes, tubers, or saved/replanted pieces.
• Perennial vine/shrub: A long-lived woody or semi-woody edible plant.
• Reseeding or overwintering edible: May come back from seed or overwinter in mild years, but isn’t always a reliable perennial.

Although I’m growing nearly 40 different types of fruit trees, I’m not including fruit trees and most herbs in this post. I recently posted 10 Perennial Herbs for Hot Climates, and here you can find what to plant for fruit trees to create your own food forest.

1. Artichoke

At the end of flowering, cut plants down to just above the ground and mulch heavily to help them survive the summer. I like growing sweet potatoes over the soil during the summer to further protect the crowns. The plant will begin growing again in the fall. Artichoke plants usually live for 3-4 years. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow artichokes.

2. Asparagus

Asparagus is one of the simplest edible perennials I grow because I only really need to pay attention to it once a year. After the fronds die back, I cut it back, give the bed some compost and mulch, and let it rest. The harvest window only lasts several weeks, but the plants improve over time, and a healthy asparagus bed can reward you for many years.

Asparagus roots produce individual stalks above ground, and the roots and stalks grow larger each year. A well-kept asparagus patch can produce for 10 years or more! For more information, read my blog post on how to grow asparagus.

3. Peppers

Although peppers are often grown as an annual in cooler climates, in the low desert it’s easy to keep them alive for years. Cover plants during frost events. Cut plants back in the early spring and/or fall to reinvigorate as described in How and When to Prune Peppers in Mild-Winter Climates. After 3-4 years, production may decline. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow peppers.

4. Chiltepin

Chiltepin is a wild chili pepper native to the U.S. and Mexico, known for its intense heat and considered the ancestor of all peppers. Plants grow large. I grow my plants in native soil and take care not to overwater. Chiltepin is frost-sensitive; cover plants during frost events. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow Chiltepin.

5. Eggplant

Eggplant is one of the easiest plants to grow in the low desert. Plant in early spring or with the monsoons. Protect from freezing temperatures. May live 2-3 years with ideal growing conditions. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow eggplant.

6. Indeterminate Tomatoes

Indeterminate tomatoes can live for several years if they stay healthy. Feed the soil with compost, keep lower leaves trimmed, and water tomatoes deeply to prevent disease. Protect from freezing temperatures. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow tomatoes.

7. Strawberries

Strawberries are trickier in the low desert than many people expect. They need plenty of sunlight during the winter growing season, but they also need protection from our intense summer sun. I’ve also found it challenging to keep the soil acidic enough for them, but when you find the right spot and keep them happy, homegrown strawberries are sweet and delicious.

The trick is to choose the correct varieties and learn how to create shade in the garden so strawberries can survive the summer. Strawberry plants can live for 3-4 years. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow strawberries.

8. Grapes

Grapes can take full sun, but give them deep, well-draining soil and room for their roots. Arizona Extension recommends soil at least 2 feet deep for grapes and notes that grape roots may extend 3 to 4 feet deep. Learn how to train and prune correctly, and grapevines will live for many years. Learn how to grow grapes at home in this guide.

9. Blackberries

Blackberries grow well with plenty of sunlight and water. Blackberry plants are perennial, but the canes are usually biennial. Many varieties grow canes the first year, fruit on those canes the second year, and then those canes die after fruiting. Primocane-fruiting varieties are different because they can produce fruit on first-year canes. My Arizona Fruit Planting Guide will help you successfully grow blackberries.

10. Goji Berries

Goji Berries form on current year’s wood. Light pruning encourages new growth and keeps the plant open for light and air circulation. Plants begin producing at 2 years old and reach maximum production after 3-5 years. Goji berries can spread underground, so be thoughtful about where you plant them. I added mine to a trellis to help manage the growth. They can be prolific, but not everyone loves the flavor, so taste the fruit before planting several.

11. Chichiquelite

Commonly called garden huckleberry. The berries produce abundantly over a long season. Chichiquelite grows large, so I prefer growing it in the ground rather than in raised beds. I’ve found that it can overwinter if we don’t freeze during the winter, but I think of it more as a reseeding or overwintering edible than a guaranteed true perennial. It will tolerate being cut back and coming back again. My Arizona Vegetable Planting Guide will help you successfully grow Chichiquelite.

Important note: Chichiquelite is in the nightshade family, so correct identification matters. Do not eat unripe berries, and don’t confuse this plant with poisonous nightshades. I only harvest fully ripe berries from plants I’m certain are correctly identified.

12. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite heat-tolerant cover crops. I grow them in raised beds and in the ground. If you want to keep sweet potatoes growing as a perennial, leave a small portion in the ground after harvesting, or replant a rooted stem. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow sweet potatoes.

13. Longevity Spinach

This tasty spinach grows well in partial shade. I usually grow it as a ground cover. Longevity spinach tolerates neglect and survives for years.

14. Capers

Caper plants thrive in the low desert. They are happiest in the ground, with at least six feet in every direction, rather than in raised beds or containers. They’re slow-growing, so give them room and patience. Mine finally started blooming in year four, and seeing those blooms made the wait feel worth it.

15. Elderberry

Mexican elderberry, also known as Sambucus mexicana, thrives in Arizona’s hot climate due to its natural tolerance for drought and heat. Elderberries aren’t the easiest edible perennial I grow, but pollinators love them. Make sure you choose the right variety for your area, and check whether it needs a second pollinator plant for better fruit production.

Give elderberries plenty of room because they can become large plants. Regular watering during the first growing season will help establish a deep root system, making the plant more resistant to drier conditions later on.

16. Jerusalem Artichoke / Sunchoke:

Jerusalem artichokes, also known as sunchokes, thrive in Arizona’s sunny and hot climate. It’s time to harvest when the plants die back. At harvest time, leave a tuber or two in the ground, and they will sprout and grow again. Learn how to grow Jerusalem artichokes with this guide.

17. Sugarcane

Sugarcane is a tropical plant that grows best with plenty of water. This perennial grass forms lateral shoots that you harvest each year. New canes form as plants spread and multiply. It is fun and easy to grow, but processing it is the tricky part. My neighbor has a sugarcane press, which makes it much more practical. Without a press, it’s still a fun plant to grow, but harvesting and using it takes more effort.

18. Passion Fruit Vine

I grow passion fruit as much for the butterflies as I do for the fruit. The vigorous vine produces fruit in the spring and fall and grows best if you give it something to climb. It usually lasts 3-4 years. There are several types to try, including native Arizona passionflower. The native type isn’t usually grown for delicious fruit, but it’s still beautiful and is a great plant for supporting butterflies. Learn here how to grow passionflower vine.

19. Moringa

Moringa has been a “wow” plant in my garden because it grows so quickly. If you’re looking for fast summer shade, this is one to consider. I often cut mine back each year to keep it the size I want, and the leaves are edible fresh or dried. Its pods are popular in Indian and Asian cooking. Moringa is ideal for hot climate desert gardens as it thrives in hot, arid conditions. Learn how to grow your own Moringa in my Arizona Fruit Planting Guide.

20. Garlic Chives

Garlic chives are one of the easiest edible perennials I grow. They give me fresh garlic flavor from the garden nearly year-round, and the plants spread over time. Every few years, I divide them and share extras with other gardeners, as the chives come back each spring. Pollinators also love the blooms in early fall. The oldest garlic chive plant in my garden is at least 10 years old. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow garlic chives.

21. I’itoi onions

I’itoi onions are a multiplier onion well-suited to desert growing. The planted bulb multiplies and is propagated by division of bulbs. Bulbs left in the ground over the summer will go dormant and begin growing again in the fall. I’itoi onions are also on my easy list because they give you access to fresh onion flavor from the garden most of the year.

When they die back, divide the bulbs and share extras with other gardeners. The hardest part about growing I’itoi onions is finding the bulbs to plant in the first place. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow I’itoi onions.

22. Turmeric

This edible perennial needs shade when grown in Arizona. Because the ground doesn’t freeze, I usually leave mine in the ground and harvest as needed throughout the year. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow turmeric.

23. Ginger

Ginger struggles with our high heat, so getting it established early in the season makes a difference. It tends to slow down once the intense summer heat arrives and needs shade or the leaves will scorch. I’ve had the best luck treating it as a protected shade crop and letting it grow where it’s not getting blasted by direct afternoon sun.

It is similar to turmeric, as you can leave ginger in the ground and harvest as needed throughout the year. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow ginger.

24. Pigeon Peas

Pigeon pea is a perennial legume shrub that lasts four or five years. One thing I love about pigeon peas is that they’re easy to start from seed. They’re relatively easy to grow in the low desert, but don’t tuck them into a crowded spot. Plants can get large, so give them room. I usually grow pigeon peas in native soil in the desert.

25. Cucamelon

Cucamelons are a tender perennial; this means they are sensitive to frost, but if cared for properly, can live for several seasons. Throughout the season, cucamelons develop an underground tuber. Once the plant dies back in mild winter areas, mulch the ground around the roots well, and it should survive over the winter and begin to regrow in the spring. For more information, read my blog post on how to grow cucamelons.

These are the edible perennials I’m growing right now or have grown in my hot climate desert garden. I’m sure there are lots more. Let me know in the comments which ones you’re growing!

Want growing advice for specific plants? Visit the Ultimate Plant Index to find tips for everything from artichoke to cucamelon.

Where should you start?

Where should you start with edible perennials in hot climates?

If you’re new to growing edible perennials in a desert garden, I’d start with crops that are useful, productive, and worth the space they take up. Some edible perennials are fun experiments, but others are much easier to justify because they give you food you’ll actually use.

My top five edible perennials to start with are grapes, blackberries, asparagus, artichokes, and sweet potatoes.

• Grapes are a great choice if you have room for a strong trellis and want fruit plus summer shade.
• Blackberries are a good option along a fence or trellis, especially if you choose varieties suited to your climate and keep them well-watered.
• Asparagus takes patience at the beginning, but once it’s established, it can produce for many years.
• Artichokes are beautiful and productive, and in my garden they come back after being cut down and heavily mulched through the summer.
• Sweet potatoes are one of the easiest ways to begin because they grow well in the heat, cover the soil, and give you an edible harvest at the end of the season.

Start with one or two that fit your space instead of planting everything at once. The best edible perennial is the one that fits your garden, your climate, and the way you actually cook and eat.

Best Edible Perennials for Different Garden Situations

Best edible perennials for beginners

If you’re just getting started with edible perennials, begin with crops that are useful, forgiving, and worth the space they take up. Garlic chives, I’itoi onions, asparagus, grapes, and sweet potatoes are some of the easiest places to start. These crops don’t need constant attention, and once they’re established, they can give you reliable harvests year after year.

Best edible perennials for shade

For protected shade or filtered light, try ginger, turmeric, and longevity spinach. These crops don’t want to bake in full afternoon sun, especially during the hottest months. Shade can be a challenge in vegetable gardens, but these plants make good use of those cooler, protected spots.

Best edible perennials for pollinators

Passionfruit, garlic chives, elderberry, artichokes, and capers are some of my favorite edible perennials for pollinators. Some are grown mostly for food, some are grown for beauty, and some earn their place because they bring so much life to the garden.

Best edible perennials for large spaces

If you have room, consider moringa, elderberry, pigeon peas, sugarcane, passionfruit, and goji berries. These plants can get large or spread, so don’t squeeze them into a small raised bed and expect them to behave. Give them room from the beginning and they’ll be much easier to manage.

FAQ: Edible Perennials for Desert Gardens

Looking for more information about edible perennials in the desert?

Read this post about 10 Perennial Herbs for Hot Summer Climates

Other Ways to Have Vegetables Come Back Each Year

• Let vegetables flower and drop seeds.
• Learn how to grow garlic and save their cloves to replant the following year.
• Learn how to save seeds each season to replant.

For more information, read my blog post on Self-Sufficient Gardening.