Plant Families
I took it upon myself to learn what herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables, trees, mushrooms & nuts are part of which families in the plant kingdom. I was somewhat surprised to find out where some of these lie too. Peppers (including black pepper) are considered fruits. Bananas are technically berries. Pineapples are bromeliads. Do you know how many members of the Nightshade family you eat and don’t think a thing about? 🤯 I’ll also list the ones that I have for sale here on the site as well as some common stuff that you can get at the grocery.
What makes a Plant family?
Plants that have like flowers, reproductive structures [OMG, plants have a gender too? Yep they can be both male and female at the same time.] are evolutionary related and other similar characteristics are grouped into plant families. Plants in the same family tend to have like growth characteristics, nutrient needs and frequently have the same pathogens [illnesses/diseases] and pests. Okay, so science breaks plants down into genus or subfamily. Kind of like how you have you immediate family and then you have cousins, great aunts and uncles (Brother/Sister of your grandparents) and distant cousins. You usually don’t think about this family thing especially when choosing foods to eat. So why should want you know? Jeopardy. Expanding your mind, learning stuff and cool knowledge are always welcome. The more you know. 🌠
Just like with people, plants can belong to more than one family (biological family, adoptive family, found family). You also may see a genus or subfamily listed in a family. I’m going to try and not use the complex Latin names that biologists give the families. I have a hard enough time trying to say them without stumbling through a few of them. Below is a table that lists “family” (This can be the genus or the actual family.) Remember that the genus can be included into the family as well as stand on its own. Its a lot to go through and it is searchable so you don’t have to page through to get to the specific thing you want.
⚠️ Please note that anything in the table that is marked with a astrek [*] is either POISONOUS or TOXIC. ⚠️
| Plant Family | Members |
|---|---|
| Daisy | Artichoke | Aster | Blessed Thistle | Burdock | Chamomile | Chickory | Chrysanthemum | Coltsfoot | Cornflower | Dandelions | Daisy | Dhalias | Feverfew | Goldenrod | Legumes | Lettuce | Licorice | Marigold | Milke Thistle | Mugwort | Ragweed | Sagebrush | Stevia | Sunflower | Terragon | Thistle | Wormwood | Yarrow | Zinnias | |
| Grasses | Bamboo | Barley | Barnyard | Bermuda | Corn | Crabgrass | Foxtail | Indian Grass | Job’s Tears | Lemongrass | Millet | Oatgrass | Rice [Wild] | Rye [Wild] | Sugarcane | Sweetgrass | Velvet | Vetiver | Wheat | |
| Mint | All Heal {Healall} | Basil | Bee Balm | Catnip | Coleus | Daisy | Dittany of Crete | Horehound | Hyssop | Lavender | Lemon Balm {Meilssa} | Marjoram | Motherwort | Oregano | Patchouli | Pennyroyal | Peppermint | Rosemary | Sage | Salvia | Savory | Skullcap | Spearmint | Thyme | |
| Moschatel (Elder) | Elder Tree | Sambucus | Viburnum |
| Rose Family | Agrimony | Almonds | Apples | Apricots | Blackberry | Boysenberry | Cherry | Cinquefoil | Crabapples | Hawthorn | Legumes | Loquats | Medlars | Pears | Peaches | Plums | Prunes | Quinces | Rose Hips | Raspberry | Red Plum | Rhododendrum | Rose | Sloe | Strawberries | |
| Cucurbits (Cucumber) | Bitter Melon | Cantaloupe | Cucumbers | Cucuzz | Cushaw | Gourds | Horned Melon | Luffa | Muskmelon | Pumpkins | Squash | Watermelon | Zucchini | |
| Daffodil | Aloe | Asparagus | Chives | Crocus | Daffodil | Garlic | Iris | Lily | Onion | Saffron | Solomon Seal | Spider Plants | |
| Gramineae (Grains) | Bamboo | Barley | Bluegrass | Corn | Kamut | Malt | Oats | Rice | Rye | Spelt | Switch Grass | Timothy Hay | |
| Legumes (Beans & Peas) | Albiza Tree | Alfalfa | Beans | Bluebonnets | Broom {Reed} | Butterfly Pea | Chickpeas | Clover | Fenrugreek | Gorse | Grasses | Kudzu | Lentils | Lupine | Mesquite | Mimosa | Peas | Peanuts | Soybeans | Wisteria | |
| Lotus | Fox Nut (Seed of the Lotus) | Lotus | Waterlillies | |
| Nightshades | Acconite* | Angel Trumpet* | Ashwagandha | Belladona* | Bell Pepper | Bittersweet* | Box Thorns* | Cayenne | Cucuna | Datura* {Jimsonweed} | Eggplant | Ghost Pepper | Goji {Lychee} | Habenaro | Henbane* | Jalepenos | Kutjera | Mandrakes* | Naranjillas | Potato | Peppers | Peprika | Petunias | Pimentos | Sweet Peppers | Sweet Potato | Tabasco | Tamarillos | Tobacco | Tomato | Tomatillos | |
| Umbellifors | Angelica | Carrots | Celery | Chervil | Cumin | Dill | Fennel | Hemlock* | Lovage | Parsley | |
| Fungi (Mushrooms) | Beef of the Woods | Beefsteak | Black Trumpet | Bolete | Button | Candy Caps | Cauliflower | Cermini | Chanterelle | Chicken of the Woods | Coral | Cornflower Bolete | Corn Smut | Enoki | Fairy Ring | Giant Puffball | Hedgehog | Hen of the Wods | Honey | Huitlacoche | Indigo Milk Cap | King Oyster | Lion’s Mane | Lobster | Maitake | Matsutake | Oyster | Pheasant Backs | Porcini | Portabello | Purple Laccaria | Quilted Green Russula | Reshi | Saffron Milk Cap | Shaggy Mane | Shaggy Parasols | Shemeji | Shitake | Shrimp of the Woods | Wood Blewit | |
| Gentian | Centaury | Eustoma | Gentian | Persian Violet | Swertia | |
| Rutaceae (Citrus) | Bael Fruit | Calamansi | Cherry | Citron | Cork Tree | Curry Tree | Gardenia | Grapefruit | Kumquats | Lemon | Lime | Limeberry | Madder | Mandrins | Orange | Oangeberry | Pomelo | Prickly Ash | Rue | Sichuan Pepper | Tangerine |
| St. Johns Wort | Orangegrass {Pineweed} | St. Andrew’s Cross | St. Johns Wort | St. Peter’s Wort | |
| Salicaceae (Willow Tree) | Apens | Cottonwood | Poplar | Willow | |
| Succulents | Aloe | Cactus | Chandelier Plant | Echeveria | Verna | |
| Grapes | Cabernet | California Wild Grape | Greco | Muscat | Mustang | Pinot Noir | Table Grapes | |
| Schisandraceae | Illicium | Kadsura | Magnolia | Schisandra | Star Anise | |
| Heaths (Berries) | Blueberry | Bog Bilberry | Cranberry | Huckleberry | Lingonberries | |
| Algae (Seaweed) | Red Algae(Nori, Irish Moss, Sea Moss,) | Brown Algae(Bladderwrack, Kelp, Kombu, Wakame, Hijiki) | Gold Algae(Freshwater Seaweeds) | Green Algae(Sea grapes, Sea Lettuce, Ulva) | |
| Nut (Tree) | Brazil Nut | Butternut | Hickory | Pecan | Pistachios | Walnut | |
| Nutmeg | Bolwarra | Mace | Nutmeg | Rampatri | Ramtamul | Virola | |
| Ginger | Cardamom | Galangul | Ginger | Globba | Resurection Lily | Tumeric | |
| Rhubarb | Buckwheat | Knotweed | Lady’s Thumb | Rhubarb | Smartweed | Yellow Dock | |
| Verbenas | Lantana | Mullein | Teak | Vervain | |
| Bromeliaceae (Bromeliads) | Air Plants | Hetchtia | Bromeliads | Orchids | Pineapples | Spanish Moss | Vanilla Beans | |
| Cashew | Cashew | Mango | Pistachio | Poison Ivy* | Poison Oak* | Peruvian Pepper | Sumac* | |
| Chicory | Coffeeweed | Cornflower | Endive | Escarole | Frisee | Italian Dandelion | Raddicchio | Succory | |
| Cannabaceae (Hemp) | Hemp | Hops | Humulus | Hackberry | Marajuana {Cannabis} | Nettle Tree | |
| Honeysukle | Beauty Bush | Bush Honeysuckle | Honeysuckle | Snowberry | Valarian | |
| Lamiaceae | Basil | Beebalms | Cat’s Whiskers {Java Tea} | Coleus | Germander | Horehound | Lavender | Mint | Mentha | Oregano | Rosemary | Salvia | Scutellaria | |
| Spurge | Candelillia | Castor* | Milkweed | Papyrus | Poinsettia* | |
| Musaceae | Bananas | Onions | Plaintains (Tostones) | |
| Soleanaceae (Peppers) | Bell Pepper | Cayenne Pepper | Carolina Reaper | Chili Pepper | Ghost Pepper | Habanero | Scotch Bonnet | Sweet Peppers | Tabasco Pepper | |
| Buttercups | Adonis {Phesant’s Eye} |Anemone |Black Cohosh | Buttercups | Clematis | Columbine | Delphinium | Globeflower | Goldenseal | Hellebore | Kingcup | Monkshood | Mousetail | Pasque Flower | |
| Birch | Alder | Birch | Hazelnut | Japanese Alder | |
| Plaintain | Arrowroot | Foxglove* | Plaintain | Sesame Seeds | Snapdragon* | Speedwell | Turtlehead | Water Starwort | |
| Poppy | Corn Poppy | Poppy | Opium Poppy | |
| Caryphyllaceae (Carnation) | Aramanthaceae | Carnations | Dianthus Leaves | Sweet William | |
| Apiaceae | Angelica | Anethum | Anise | Bupleurum | Caraway | Carrots | Celery Leaf | Chervil | Corriander | Cowbane* {Giant Hogweed}Cilantro | Dill | Gotu Kola | Lovage | Parsnip | Parsley | Queen Anne’s Lace | |
| Bignonias | Cat’s Claw | Jarcanda | Pau d’ Arco | Trumpet Flower Trees | Tumpet Flower Vines | |
| Violaceae (Violets) | Hybanthus | Isodendrion | Johnny-Jump-Ups | Melicytus | Pansy | Rinorea | Violet | Whiteywood | |
| Whole/Only Family | Ferns* | Mistletoe | Nettles | Witch Hazel | |
| Grossuluriece | Black Currants | Currants | Gooseberries | |
| Primrose | Moneywort | Loosestrife | Primrose | Rock Jasmine | |
| Purslane | Little Hogweed | Purslane | Pusley | Wild Portulaca | |
| Fagaceae | Beechdrops | Beech Tree | Broomrape | Chestnut | Oak |
| Pine | Cedar | Firs | Hemlock | Larch | Pine | Spruce | |
| Cypress | Cedar | Cypress | Incense Cedar | Juniper | Papyrus | |
| Theaceae | Camellia | Eurya | Heathers | Magnolia | Stewartia | Tea |
| Amaranthaceae | Aramanth | Beets | Chard | Cock’s Comb | Goosefoot | Quinoa | Spinach | |
| Mallows | Cheeseweed {Buttonweed} | Durian | Hibiscus | Hollyhock | Marshmallow | Muskmallow | Okra | Rose of Sharon |
| Burseraceae | Copal | Frankincense | Myrrh | |
| Cabbage | Arugula | Bok Choy | Broccoli | Brussels Sprouts | Califlower | Cabbage | Charlock | Horseraddish | Kale | Mustard | Pennycress | Pepergrass | Raddish | Rose of Jericho | Rutabaga | Shepherd’s Purse | Sweet Alyssum | Turnips | Wallflower | Wasabi | Watercress | Woad | |
| Arceaceae (Palm Tree) | Calumus | Caranuba {Copernica} | Coconut | Hearts of Palm | Philodendron | Raffia Plam | Rattan Palm | Sago Palm | Wild Date Palm | |
| Oleaceae | Ash Tree | Forsythia | Fringetrees | Jasmine | Lilac | Olive | Osmanthus | Privet | |
| Laurels | Avocados | Bay | Calico Bush | Camphor Tree | Cinnamon | Oregon Myrtle | Sassafras | |
| Mulberry | Breadfruit | Ficus | Figs | Mulberry | |
| Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) | Black Peppercorns | Green Peppercorns | White Peppercorns | |
| Paeoniaceae | Camellias | Dahlias | Peony | Ranunculus | |
| Passionflower | Giant Granadilla | Passionflower | Purple Ganadilla | Sweet Calabash | Yellow Granadilla | |
| Boraginaceae (Borage) | Boneset | Borage | Comfrey | Forget-me-not | |
| Myrtle | Allspice | Cloves | Eucalyptus | Guava | Myrtles | |
