Your garden may already be full of the usual suspects—tomatoes, basil, and cucumbers—but there’s a whole world of overlooked plants just waiting to be discovered. Some are edible, some are beautiful, and others are downright magical when it comes to improving your soil or repelling pests. Yet, most gardeners don’t think to include them.
If you’re ready to shake things up and grow something unexpected, here are 12 plants you probably aren’t planting—but definitely should.
Borage
This starry blue flower isn’t just pretty—it’s a pollinator magnet and edible, too. The cucumber-flavored leaves and blooms are great in salads and drinks. Borage also helps improve the soil and deter pests like tomato hornworms.
Ground Cherries
These sweet, pineapple-like fruits grow in husk-covered pods and are perfect for jams, pies, or snacking straight from the garden. Ground cherries are easy to grow and thrive in full sun. Most people overlook them, but once you try them, you’ll be hooked.
Miner’s Lettuce
This cool-season green forms cute, saucer-shaped leaves and has a mild, slightly sweet flavor. It grows well in shady spots where other greens might fail. Historically eaten during the Gold Rush, it’s a nutritious and charming addition to salads.
Sorrel
Sorrel’s tangy, lemony flavor is great in soups, sauces, or salads. It’s a perennial green that thrives in cooler seasons and keeps coming back year after year. Most gardeners overlook it, but once planted, it’s hard to live without.
Walking Onions
Also known as Egyptian onions, these quirky plants “walk” by producing top sets that fall over and replant themselves. They're hardy, low-maintenance, and provide green onions and bulbs for cooking. It’s a fascinating, self-sustaining crop.
Sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichokes)
These tall, sunflower-like plants grow knobby, edible tubers that are nutty and slightly sweet. They’re perfect for roasting and are surprisingly easy to grow. Just give them space—they tend to spread enthusiastically.
Lemon Verbena
Often skipped in favor of more common herbs, lemon verbena has one of the most intense citrus scents around. It’s perfect for teas, desserts, and homemade infusions. Grow it in a sunny spot and enjoy its fragrant leaves all summer.
Orach
Also known as mountain spinach, orach is a vibrant leafy green that comes in deep red, purple, and green hues. It grows well in heat and adds a splash of color to salads and stir-fries. It’s more heat-tolerant than spinach and just as versatile.
Celeriac
This knobby root vegetable is celery’s earthier, heartier cousin. It’s delicious mashed, roasted, or added to soups for a rich, savory depth. Celeriac is surprisingly easy to grow if given enough time and space.
Agastache (Anise Hyssop)
A beautiful, drought-tolerant plant with licorice-scented leaves and purple flower spikes that attract bees and hummingbirds. The leaves can be used for tea or flavoring. It’s ornamental, edible, and a major pollinator draw.
Toothache Plant (Spilanthes)
This quirky herb has yellow, eyeball-shaped flowers that produce a mouth-tingling sensation when chewed. Traditionally used for oral health and natural remedies, it’s a conversation piece and medicinal herb all in one. Grow it in containers or garden beds for a unique experience.
Sea Kale
A perennial vegetable native to coastal regions, sea kale produces edible leaves, flowers, and even roots. It looks ornamental but is fully edible, tasting like a mild mix between cabbage and asparagus. It’s hardy, low-maintenance, and a true garden sleeper hit.
These under-the-radar plants don’t just add variety—they bring function, flavor, and flair to your garden. So next time you’re planning your planting list, don’t just go with the usual. Give one (or all!) of these surprising picks a try.
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