Innovative Options

Cool Climate Crops

Plant Usage Key to Table of Cool Climate Crops
AF animal forage	BI biocide	FA food additive, stabilizer	FI fiber crop
FR fruit crop	FU fuel potential	GC grain/pulse	GM green manure / soil improvement
GR gum / resin	HA aromatic herb	HC culinary herb	HM medicinal herb
LA latex / rubber	OC oil crop	OR ornamental	RT root / tuber
SG salad green	SP spice / flavoring	SU sugar crop	TA animal toxin
TD skin toxin	TG stomach toxin	VF fruiting vegetable
VL leafy / stem vegetable	WE potential weed

Cool Climate Crops Listing

Crop	Common Name	Primary Use	Secondary Use
	Sprouts	SG
Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum	Elephant Garlic	VL, SP	WE
Allium porrum	Leek	VL	SP
Allium sativum	Garlic	SP	VL, OC
Allium schoenoprasum	Chives	SG, VL
Allium tricoccum	Ramps, Wild Leek	SP, VL
Allium tuberosum	Garlic Chives, Chinese Chives	VL, SG	OR, MH
Aloe vera	Aloe	MH	OR
Amaranthus spp.	Amaranth	GC, VL	AF, OR
Anethum graveolens	Dill	SP	OC, HM
Arachis hypogaea	Peanut, Groundnut	GC, OC	AF
Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris	Sugar Beet, Beet, Mangel	SU, RT	AF
Borago officinalis	Borage	HC, VL	OR, HM, TA
Brassica juncea var. crispifolia	Curled Mustard	VL
Brassica juncea var. foliosa	Leaf Mustard	VL
Brassica juncea var. japonica	Cut-leaf Mustard	VL
Brassica juncea var. juncea	Indian Mustard	VL,GC, OC	HM
Brassica juncea var. multiceps	Chicken Mustard	VL
Brassica juncea var. napiformis	Root Mustard	RT
Brassica juncea var. rugosa	Cabbage-leaf Mustard	VL
Brassica juncea var. strumata	Horned Mustard	VL
Brassica juncea var. tumida	Big-stem Mustard	VL
Brassica napus var. napus	Rape, Canola	OC
Brassica nigra	Black Mustard	VL, SP, SG	HM, WE
Camelina sativa	False Flax	OC	AF, WE
Capsicum annuum var. annuum	Ornamental Pepper	OR	VF, HM, BI
Capsicum annuum var. annuum	Chili Pepper	VF, SP	VL, BI
Capsicum annuum var. annuum	Paprika	SP	VL
Capsicum annuum var. annuum	Cayenne	VF, SP	VL, BI
Capsicum annuum var. annuum	Bell Pepper, Sweet Pepper	VF, SG	VL
Capsicum spp.	Pepper, Chili, Chile	VF, SP	VL
Carthamus tinctorius	Safflower	OC	AF
Carum carvi	Caraway	SP	OC, HM
Chamaemelum nobile	Chamomile	HM
Chenopodium quinoa subsp. quinoa	Quinoa	GC
Cicer arietinum	Chickpea, Garbanzo	GC
Crambe abyssinica	Crambe	AF, VL	OC
Cuphea carthagenesis	Colombian Waxweed	OC	BI, FU, HM
Cuphea lanceolata	Lance-leaf Cigar Flower	OC	OR
Cuphea spp. (several)	Cuphea	OR	OR
Cuphea viscosissima	Tarweed, Blue Waxweed	OC
Cuphea viscosissima X C. lanceolata	Cuphea	OC
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba	Guar, Cluster Bean	GR, FA	GM, AF
Echinacea angustifolia	Narrow-leaf Echinacea	HM	AF
Echinacea pallida	Pale Echinacea	HM	AF
Echinacea purpurea	Purple Coneflower	OR, HM	AF
Echinochloa esculenta	Japanese Millet	GC	AF
Echinochloa frumentacea	Indian Barnyard Millet	AF
Eleocharis dulcis	Chinese Water Chestnut	RT	WE
Eruca sativa	Arugula, Garden Rocket	SG, VL, AF	OC, GM, BI, WE
Euphorbia lathyris	Petroleum Plant	OC, FU	TA, WE
Fagopyrum esculentum	Buckwheat	GC, GM	AF, HM, TA
Foeniculum vulgare	Fennel	SP, HM	WE
Glycine max	Edible Soybean	VF, GC
Hibiscus cannabinus	Kenaf	FI, AF	OC, FU
Hippophae rhamnoides	Sea Buckthorn	FR, AF	OR
Hydrastis canadensis	Goldenseal	HM, OR	TA
Jatropha curcas	Jatropha, Physic Nut	OC, FU	HM, TA, TG, TD
Lavandula angustifolia	English Lavender	OR, OC	HM
Lens culinaris	Lentil	GC	GM, AF
Lesquerella fendleri	Fendler's Bladderpod	AF, GR	OC, FA
Limnanthes alba	Meadowfoam	OR	AF, OC
Linum usitatissimum	Flax	OC, AF, FI	HM
Melissa officinalis	Lemon Balm	SP	OR, OC
Mentha pulegium	Pennyroyal	OR, OC	HM, WE
Mentha spicata	Spearmint	SP, OC	HM, SG
Mentha x piperita nothosubsp. piperita	Peppermint	SP, OC
Ocimum basilicum	Basil	SP, SG	VL, OC
Oenothera biennis	Evening Primrose	OC, OR	HM, LV
Panax ginseng	Ginseng	RT, HM	SP
Panax quinquefolius	American Ginseng	RT, HM	SP
Panicum miliaceum subsp. miliaceum	Proso Millet, Common Millet	GC	AF
Parthenium argentatum	Guayule	LA	TA
Pennisetum glaucum	Pearl Millet, Bulrush Millet	GC	AF, WE
Phalaris canariensis	Canary Grass	AF	GC
Plantago afra	Psillium	FA, HM
Plantago arenaria
Plantago ovata
Ricinus communis	Castor Bean	OC, OR	HM, FU, WE, TA, TG
Satureja hortensis	Summer Savory	SP, OC
Setaria italica	Foxtail Millet, Italian Millet	GC, SP	AF, WE
Simmondsia chinensis	Jojoba	OC	OR
Sinapis alba subsp. alba	White Mustard	HC, SP	AF, WE, TA
Sorghum bicolor	Sweet Sorghum	SU, AF	GC, FU
Urochloa ramosa	Browntop Millet	AF	WE
Vigna angularis var. angularis	Azuki or Adzuki Bean	GC, VF	AF, GM
Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata	Cow Pea, Black-eyed Pea	VF	AF, GM
Zea mays	Popcorn	VF	AF, FU
Zizania aquatica	(Annual) Wild Rice	GC	MH
Zizania latifolia	Manchurian Wild Rice	GC, VL	WE
Zizania palustris	Wild Rice, (Northern) Wild Rice	GC	AF
Zizania texana	Texas Wild Rice	GC	endangered

Information for the above table was taken principally from World Economic Plants, a Standard Reference, CRC Press, 1999.