List of food plants native to the Americas

Northern highbush blueberry

A number of popular and commercially important food plants are native to the Americas. Some are endemic, meaning they occur naturally only in the Americas and nowhere else, while others occur naturally both in the Americas and on other continents as well.

When complete, the list below will include all food plants native to the Americas (genera marked with a dagger ^† are endemic), regardless of when or where they were first used as a food source. For a list of food plants and other crops which were only introduced to Old World cultures as a result of the Columbian Exchange touched off by the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, see New World crops.

Grains

Quinoa is native only to a relatively small region of the Andes mountains in South America

• Corn/Maize (Zea^†)
• Quinoa (Chenopodium)
• Several (though not all) species of amaranth (Amaranthus)
• Some species of wild rice (Zizania)
• Indian Corn (Flint Corn)

Legumes

• Peanut (Arachis^†})
• Pinto, tepary, black, kidney, navy, scarlet runner (Phaseolus coccineus) and lima beans (Phaseolus^†)

Nightshades

A variety of tomato cultivars

Cubanelle peppers

• Potato (Solanum)
• Tomato (Solanum)
• Bell and chili peppers (Capsicum^†)
• Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica)

Fruits

Apple guavas

• Pineapple (Ananas^†)
• Guava (Psidium^† and Acca^†)
• Passion fruit (Passiflora)
• Papaya (Carica^† and Vasconcellea^†)
• Cherimoya, sugar-apple, hog plum, and soursop (Annona)
• Pawpaw (Asimina^†)
• Dragonfruit/pitaya (Hylocereus^† and Stenocereus^†)
• Concord grape (Vitis)
• Huckleberry (Vaccinium and Gaylussacia^†)
• Several (though not all) species of:
  • Strawberry (Fragaria)
  • Blueberry (Vaccinium)
  • Cranberry (Vaccinium)
  • Raspberry (Rubus)
  • Salmonberry(Rubus)
  • Oregon grape(Mahonia)
  • Thimbleberry(Rubus)
  • Mayhaw(Crataegus)
  • Blackberry (Rubus)
  • Plum (Prunus)
  • Black cherry (Prunus)
• Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
• Hawthorn Berry (Crataegus)
• Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
• Prickly Pear or Cactus Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica)

• Allegheny Barberry
• Bearberry (Manzanita, Kinnikinnick)
• Black Chokeberry (often called Aronias, due to confusion with chokecherry)
• Deerberry
• Lingonberry
• Swamp dewberry (various species of Rubus, distinct from Raspberry, Blackberry, Salmonberry, Thimbleberry & Cloudberry)
• Several native species of Ribes, comprising Red Currants, Black Currants, Golden Currants and Gooseberries
• Hackberry
• Multiple edible species of Viburnum, including Highbush Cranberry (Trilobum), Blackhaw (Prunifolium), Nannyberry (Lentago), and Mooseberry (Edule)
• Various species in the Prosartes line, usually called Fairybells.
• Mayapple
• Virginia Persimmon and Texas Persimmon
• Rosehips, or fruit of various wild Rosa species.
• Sand Cherry
• Fruit of select species of Aralia, also usually known as Spikenards, such as Racemosa. Not all species have safely edible fruit.
• fruits of the Gaultheria plants. Procumbens fruit is known as Teaberry, whereas Shallon is known as Salal and Hispidula is called Moxie Plum.
• Ogeechee Fruit. Most prized species of Tupelo for edibility, though all native Tupelo species have edible fruit.
• Gum Bully Olives, aka American Olives
• Beautyberry
• Buffaloberry
• Multiple Sambucus species- particularly Canadensis and Cerulea. Red Elderberry species are not considered safely edible.
• Red Mulberry
• Honeyberry is the only known edible species of Honeysuckle

Nuts

• Peanut (Arachis^†) commarode Peanuts
• Cashew (Anacardium^†)
• American chestnut
• Pecan (Carya)
• Black walnut (Juglans)
• Brazil nut (Bertholletia^†)
• Butternut or White Walnut (Juglans cinerea)
• Many species of Acorns - seeds of the genus Quercus Oak
• American Hazelnut

Root Vegetable

• Camas- several species of Camassia, also known as Hyacinths.
• Cassava- also known as Manioc or Tapioca. Native to Amazon. Domesticated and cultivated in South America, Central America and Caribbean.
• Indian Potato- roots of two native species- Apios americana and Apios priceana
• Jerusalem artichoke - specific species of sunflower with large, edible root.
• Lily Bulbs- several species in Lilium family
• Oca - specific species of Oxalis, or Wood Sorrel with large edible root.
• Tobacco Root (species of Velerian, not actual tobacco)
• Wapato- several species of Sagittaria
• Wild Onion- several native species, such as Ramps and Meadow Garlic
• Wild Sweet Potato- roots of several native species of Ipomoea, also known as Morning Glory
• Yampah- several plants in the Perideridia family. Leaves also used as spice.

Other

• Cocoa (Theobroma^†)
• Vanilla (Vanilla)
• Jicama (Pachyrhizus^†)
• sunflower (Helianthus^†)
• Avocado (Persea)
• Agave (Agave^†)
• Pumpkin and squash (Cucurbita^†)
• Chayote (Sechium^†)
• Chia (Salvia)
• Maple Syrup
• Honey (Melipona, Apis nearctica)
• Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria)

See also

• Columbian Exchange
• List of food origens
• New World crops