Native Plant Agriculture

What is Native Plant Agriculture?

Native Plant Agriculture (NPA) is the implementing of edible native plants as the basis of a primarily perennial agricultural system that mimics native plant communities in format. The goal of NPA is to expand native vegetation back into agricultural land to restore a significant level of biodiversity while improving human-food productivity for a changing climate and growing population.

When/if agriculture shifts to a Native Plant Perennial system, soil is conserved, more carbon is sequestered in the soil and above ground, irrigation needs decrease, fertilizer needs decrease and biodiversity increases in response to the native plant diversity. Since the plants are native, it becomes "eco-inclusive", allowing all types of native insects including pollinators, and higher life forms to co-exist. Compare this with our current agricultural system which is "eco-exclusive" primarily supporting one single species desires (humans). Any food system that isn't based in native plants is much more so eco-exclusive, as non-native plants lack the co-evolution with native insects and wildlife to support them.

Native Plant Agriculture could mitigate habitat fragmentation and habitat loss by connecting perennial native plant agricultural land to existing undeveloped habitat. The inclusion of native plants as the foundation of our agricultural systems is an answer to questions about insect and pollinator decline, and sequestering carbon on cropland through perennial agriculture.

NPA Crops of the Eastern half of the U.S. - Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic.

This list is partly limited to higher potential native crops and is incomplete; not encompassing the entirety of applicable species. Please research before consuming these species. Like grocery store produce; not all are safe consumed in their raw form.

Native Fruit Production: PawPaw, American Persimmon, Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana), Native Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), Passionflower - Passionfruit (Passiflora incarnata), Yellow Passionflower (Passiflora lutea), Native Apples: (Malus coronaria, Malus angustifolia, Malus ioensis), Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa, Red Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia, Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia), Fox Grape (Vitis labrusca) cultivars, Muscadine Grapes (Vitis rotundifolia), Red Mulberry (Morus rubra), Serviceberry species (Amelanchier sp.), High-Bush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), Black Raspberry, Pink Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus), American Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus var. strigosa), Native Blackberries (Rubus pensylvanicus and Rubus allegheniensis), Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa), Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), Mayapple, Smooth Sumac, Shining Sumac, Staghorn Sumac, Fragrant Sumac

Wild Plums and Native Cherries: Common Plum (Prunus americana), Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia), Quapaw Plum (Prunus hortulana), Shawnee Wild Plum (Prunus munsoniana), Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana), Beach Plum (Prunus maritima), Flatwoods Plum (Prunus umbellata), Sand Cherry (Prunus pumilla), Thicket Cherry (Prunus virginiana)

Gooseberries/Currants: Golden Currants (Ribes areum), American Gooseberries (Ribes hirtellum), American Black Currant (Ribes americanum), Missouri Gooseberry (Ribes missouriense), Appalachian Gooseberry (Ribes rotundifolium), and other native Gooseberries and native Currants

Ground Cherries: Physalis longifolia, Physalis pubescens, Physalis heterophylla, Physalis pubescens, Physalis virginiana, Physalis grisea - common ground cherry species native to central/midwestern, eastern, northeastern, and southeastern U.S.

Native Vegetable Crops: Virginia Spiderwort and Ohio Spiderwort (Stems/leaves), Honewort (cryptotaenia canadensis), Riverbank Grape (leaves/stems/tendrils), Slender Nettle Urtica gracilis (leaves/stems), Wood Nettle (leaves/stems), Common Milkweed (Shoots, Seed Pods/Leaves) Cutleaf Coneflower (leaves), Wild Leeks (Allium tricoccum and Allium burdickii), Passionflower (leaves/stems/tendrils), American Linden (leaves), Red Mulberry (leaves), Amaranthus: hybridus, powellii, tuberculatus (leaves), Pitseed Goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri), Missouri Lambquarters (C. missouriense), Strawberry Spinach (Chenopdoum capitatum), Pokeweed Stems/shoots and Leaves (Phytolacca americana ), Sumac shoots (Staghorn Sumac), Cup Plant ( Young Leaves), River Cane (Young Shoots) Arundinaria gigantea, Smooth Carrionflower Smilax herbacea (shoots), Blue Ridge Carrionflower Smilax lasioneura (shoots) Cow Parnsip - sap is phototoxic to skin; (Heracleum maximum), Yellow Wild Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis)

Root Vegetables: Purple Mallow Poppy - Root (Callirhoe involucrata), Pasture Thistle (Cirsium discolor), Sweet Root Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides-Root), Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia), Broadleaf Cattail-Root/shoot (Typha latifolia), American Lotus-stems/roots/leaves (Nelumbo lutea), Allium cernuum (leaves/roots), Showy Wild Garlic (Leaves/shoots/roots) Allium canadense var. lavendulare, Wild Garlic Stem/Root (Allium canadense), Prairie Onion Allium stellata, Yellow Nutsedge - Cyperus esculentus (Root) Evening Primrose (Root/Leaves), Groundnut (Apios americana - Root), Jerusalem Artichoke Cultivars (Root), Water Parsnip (Sium suave)

Native Seed/Nut Crops:

Oaks: Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), Overcup Oak (Quercus lyrata), Swamp Chestnut Oak (Quercus michauxii), Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana), Turkey Oak (Quercus laevis), Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra), Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii), Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor), White Oak (Quercus alba), Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii), Nuttall Oak (Quercus texana), Sand Post Oak (Quercus margaretta), Sand Live Oak (Quercus geminata), Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), Dwarf Live Oak (Quercus minima), Scarlet Oak (Quercus coccinea), Dwarf Chinkapin Oak (Quercus prinoides), Chapman Oak (Quercus chapmanii), Swamp Post Oak (Quercus similis)

Hickories: Shellbark Hickory (Carya laciniosa), Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata), Red Hickory (Carya ovalis), Pecan (Carya illinoinensis), Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis) for hickory oil production, Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa), Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra), Southern Shagbark Hickory (Carya carolinae-septentrionalis), Sand Hickory (Carya pallida), Black Hickory (Carya texana), Nutmeg Hickory (Carya myristiciformis) and other hickory variotions, cultivars, naturally occuring hybrids, and species.

Other Seed/Nut Crops: Black Walnut (Juglans nigra), Butternut (Juglans cinerea), American Chestnut (Castanea dentata; future blight-resistant cultivars), Allegheny Chinkapin (Castanea pumila), American Hazelnut (Corylus americana), Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta), Annual Sunflower Cultivars (Helianthus annuus), Pitseed Goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri), Missouri Lambsquarters (Chenopodium missouriense; also classified as Chenopodium album var. missouriense), Native Amaranth Species (Amaranthus spp., including Amaranthus hybridus and Amaranthus tuberculatus), American Groundnut (Apios americana; edible beans and tubers), Virginia Wild Rye (Elymus virginicus), Canada Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis), Riverbank Rye (Elymus riparius), Annual Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica), Northern Wild Rice (Zizania palustris), Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida; edible seeds).

Herbal, Tea, and Culinary Crops:

Sumac Spice (Rhus spp., edible sumacs only), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Nannyberry Sauce (Viburnum lentago), Blackhaw Viburnum Sauce (Viburnum prunifolium), Wild Plum Sauce (Prunus americana), Juniper Berries (Juniperus virginiana, small culinary quantities), Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), Nodding Wild Onion (Allium cernuum, leaves and bulbs), Showy Wild Garlic (Allium canadense var. lavendulare, leaves, shoots, and bulbs), Wild Garlic (Allium canadense, stems and bulbs), Prairie Onion (Allium stellatum), Wild Leeks (Allium tricoccum and Allium burdickii), Northern Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), Dittany/Wild Oregano (Cunila origanoides), New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus), Redroot/Prairie Redroot (Ceanothus herbaceus), Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora), Scarlet Bee Balm/Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma), Spotted Bee Balm/Horsemint (Monarda punctata), Lemon Bee Balm (Monarda citriodora), Bradbury's Bee Balm (Monarda bradburiana), Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum), Slender Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium), Clustered Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum), Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum), Hairy Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum pilosum), American Wild Mint (Mentha canadensis), Sweetfern (Comptonia peregrina), American Basswood (Tilia americana, flowers and bracts), and Slender Nettle (Urtica gracilis, young cooked leaves, dried leaves for tea, and tender cooked shoots).

Native Syrups

Sugar Maple Syrup (Acer saccharum), Black Walnut Syrup (Juglans nigra), Black Maple Syrup (Acer nigrum), Red Maple Syrup (Acer rubrum), Silver Maple Syrup (Acer saccharinum), Boxelder Syrup (Acer negundo), Yellow Birch Syrup (Betula alleghaniensis), Sweet Birch/Black Birch Syrup (Betula lenta), Paper Birch Syrup (Betula papyrifera), River Birch Syrup (Betula nigra), Gray Birch Syrup (Betula populifolia), Butternut Syrup (Juglans cinerea), Shagbark Hickory Bark Syrup (Carya ovata), Honeylocust Sweet Pod Pulp and Syrup (Gleditsia triacanthos), and American Sycamore Syrup (Platanus occidentalis

Native Mushrooms

Easier to Cultivate (Established Cultivation Methods): Pearl Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus), Summer Oyster (Pleurotus pulmonarius), Wine Cap/Garden Giant (Stropharia rugosoannulata), Almond Agaricus (Agaricus subrufescens), Maitake/Hen-of-the-Woods (Grifola frondosa), Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus), Bear’s Head Tooth (Hericium americanum), Elm Oyster (Hypsizygus ulmarius), Aspen Oyster (Pleurotus populinus), Coral Tooth (Hericium coralloides), Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus).

Moderately Difficult to Cultivate (Limited or Experimental Cultivation Methods): Chicken-of-the-Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus), White Chicken-of-the-Woods (Laetiporus cincinnatus), Hardwood Wood Ear (Auricularia angiospermarum), American Wood Ear (Auricularia americana), Wood Blewit (Lepista nuda species complex).

Difficult to Cultivate (Less Reliable or Experimental Cultivation): Giant Puffball (Calvatia gigantea), Black-Staining Polypore (Meripilus sumstinei), Berkeley’s Polypore (Bondarzewia berkeleyi), Eastern Cauliflower Mushroom (Sparassis spathulata), Dryad’s Saddle/Pheasant Back (Cerioporus squamosus), Umbrella Polypore (Polyporus umbellatus complex), Beefsteak Mushroom (Fistulina hepatica), Common Yellow Morel (Morchella americana), Black Morel (Morchella angusticeps), Purple-Spored Puffball (Calvatia cyathiformis), Pecan Truffle (Tuber lyonii), Appalachian Truffle (Tuber canaliculatum).

Nitrogen Harvesting Crops for Greenmulching/Fertilizing:

Amorpha fruticosa (False Indigo Bush), Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust), Alnus serrulata (Smooth Alder), Alnus incana subsp. rugosa (Speckled Alder), Desmanthus illinoensis (Illinois Bundleflower), Desmodium canadense (Showy Tick-Trefoil),Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge Pea), Sesbania herbacea (Hemp Sesbania), Aeschynomene americana (American Jointvetch), Baptisia australis (Blue Wild Indigo), Baptisia alba (White Wild Indigo), Baptisia tinctoria (Yellow Wild Indigo), Lespedeza capitata (Round-headed Bush Clover), Lespedeza hirta (Hairy Bush Clover), Lespedeza virginica (Slender Bush Clover), Astragalus canadensis (Canada Milkvetch), Apios americana (American Groundnut), Wild Senna & Maryland Senna, Vicia americana (American Vetch), Lathyrus venosus (Veiny Pea), Robinia hispida (Bristly Locust).

Native plants that can absorb atmospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) - applicable as green mulch

Erechtites hieraciifolius (American Burnweed), Bidens species, Oenothera biennis (Evening Primrose), Solidago canadensis (Canadian Goldenrod)

Species Separated by the 5 formats of Native Plant Agriculture

Canopy, Sub-Woodland (trees too small to mix with canopy Format), Thicket, Herbaceous, Sub-Thicket (Thicket plants too small to mix with the thicket format), and Vines

Canopy Format

Bur Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Red Oak, Shumard Oak, White Oak, Swamp White Oak & Other Oak species. Shellbark Hickory, Shagbark Hickory, Red Hickory (Carya ovalis), Pecans, Yellowbud Hickory (Carya cordiformis) & other hickory species. Black Walnuts, Butternuts, & American Chestnut (future blight resistant cultivars), American Linden if growing for its seeds

Sub-woodland Format 

(trees too small to mix with canopy Format)

American Persimmon for fruit, Red Mulberry (Morus rubra) for fruit or coppiced for leaves, American Linden if coppiced for leaves

Thicket Format 

PawPaw, Native Apples: (Malus coronaria, Malus angustifolia, Malus ioensis), Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis),Serviceberry species (Amelanchier sp.), Wild Plums and Native Cherries: Common Plum (Prunus americana), Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia), Quapaw Plum (Prunus hortulana), Shawnee Wild Plum (Prunus munsoniana), Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana), Beach Plum (Prunus maritima), Flatwoods Plum (Prunus umbellata), Thicket Cherry (Prunus virginiana), Smooth Sumac, Shining Sumac, Staghorn Sumac, Fragrant Sumac, Allegheny Chinkapin, American Hazelnut(Corylus americana), Beaked Hazelnut (Corylus cornuta), Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana)

Herbaceous/Sub-thicket/Vine Format

Herbaceous Fruits

Native Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana),Prickly Pear (Opuntia humifusa), Mayapple, Ground Cherries: Physalis longifolia, Physalis pubescens, Physalis heterophylla, Physalis pubescens, Physalis virginiana, Physalis grisea, 

Herbaceous Non-Root Vegetables

Virginia Spiderwort and Ohio Spiderwort (Stems/leaves), Honewort (cryptotaenia canadensis), Amaranthus: hybridus, powellii, tuberculatus (leaves), Pitseed Goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri), Missouri Lambquarters (C. missouriense), Strawberry Spinach (Chenopdoum capitatum), Pokeweed Stems/shoots and Leaves (Phytolacca americana), Smooth Carrionflower Smilax herbacea (shoots), Blue Ridge Carrionflower Smilax lasioneura (shoots) Cow Parnsip - sap is phototoxic to skin; (Heracleum maximum), Yellow Wild Lettuce (Lactuca canadensis), Cup Plant ( Young Leaves), Pickerel Weed (Pontederia cordata)

Herbaceous Root Vegetables

Purple Mallow Poppy - Root (Callirhoe involucrata), Pasture Thistle (Cirsium discolor), Sweet Root Wild Hyacinth (Camassia scilloides-Root), Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia), Broadleaf Cattail-Root/shoot (Typha latifolia), American Lotus-stems/roots/leaves (Nelumbo lutea), Allium cernuum (leaves/roots), Showy Wild Garlic (Leaves/shoots/roots) Allium canadense var. lavendulare, Wild Garlic Stem/Root (Allium canadense), Prairie Onion Allium stellata, Yellow Nutsedge - Cyperus esculentus (Root) Evening Primrose (Root/Leaves), Groundnut (Apios americana - Root), Jerusalem Artichoke Cultivars (Root), Water Parsnip (Sium suave)

Herbaceous Seed Crops

Helianthus annus cultivars (Annual sunflower), Pitseed Goosefoot (Chenopodium berlandieri), Missouri Lambquarters (C. missouriense), Native Amaranth species, Thicket Bean (Phaseolus polystachios), Trailing Wild Bean aka Fuzzy Bean (Strophostyles helvola), Groundnut (beans), Virginia Wild Rye (Elymus virginicus), Canada Wild Rye (Elymus canadensis), Riverbank Rye (Elymus riparius), Wild Rice: Zizania aquatic, Zizania palustris, and Zizania texana, Giant Ragweed (Seeds)

Sub-Thicket

Thicket plants too small to mix with the thicket format

High-Bush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), Black Raspberry, Pink Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus), American Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus var. strigosa), Native Blackberries (Rubus pensylvanicus and Rubus allegheniensis), Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa, Red Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia, Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata), Sand Cherry (Prunus pumilla) Gooseberries/Currants: Golden Currants (Ribes areum), American Gooseberries (Ribes hirtellum), American Black Currant (Ribes americanum), Missouri Gooseberry (Ribes missouriense), Appalachian Gooseberry (Ribes rotundifolium), and other native Gooseberries and native Currants

Vines

Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia (fruits and vegetation), Fox Grape (Vitis labrusca) Cultivar - Fruits, Muscadine Grapes (Vitis rotundifolia - fruits), Passionflower - Passionfruit (Passiflora incarnata vegetation and fruits)

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