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
Maize/corn (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
Potato (Solanum) Tomato (Solanum) Bell and chili peppers (Capsicum†) Tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica)
Fruits
Pineapple (Ananas†) Guava (Psidium† and Acca†) Cherry guava Feijoa Guavira Perfume guava Brazilian perfume guava Guinea guava Araçá-una Passion fruit (Passiflora) Sweet granadilla Giant granadilla Fragant Granadilla Banana passionfruit Cherimoya, sugar-apple, hog plum (Annona) Pond apple Netted custard apple Beach sugar apple Orange custard apple Soursop Mountain soursop Rollinia Sincuya Orange soursop (Annona spinescens) Marolo Wild custard apple Pawpaw(Asimina†) Papaya (Carica† and Vasconcellea†) Oak leaf papaya Mountain papaya Cocoplum Cerrado pear Rumberry Dragonfruit/pitaya (Hylocereus† and Stenocereus†) Avocado Arazá Guayabillo Cabeluda Red cabeludinha Amazon grape Bacuri Bacupari Gulosa (Peritassa laevigata) Guabiyu Achacha Charichuela Mameyito Pepino melon Guaquica Guinep Courbaril Abiurana (Pouteria trilocularis) Abuai (Pouteria gardneriana) Aguai (Chrysophyllum gonocarpum) Oiti Pequi Yellow plum Pouteria bangii Pouteria venosa Sapotinha roxa (Pouteria gardneri) Zapotillo (Pouteria durlandii) Mamey apple Sapodilla Mamey Sapote White Sapote Black Sapote Green Sapote Sun sapote Capoteira Pajurá Lucuma Canistel Star apple Abiu Caimitillo Wild star apple Cinnamon apple Wolf apple Imbu Borojó Cuajilote Chal chal Camu camu Chupa-chupa Cupuaçu Mocambo Cassabanana Jabuticaba Blue grape tree Mulchi Cambucá Cambuci Acerola Muntingia Savanna pitanga Murtinha Nance Quinilla Chicle muyo Tamarillo Naranjilla Cocona Zucchini Peanut butter fruit Brazilian cherry (Eugenia uniflora and Grumichama) Cherry of Rio Grande Brazillian milk fruit (Cordia taguahyensis) Blackberry jam fruit (Rosenbergiodendron formosum) and (Rosenbergiodendron longiflorum) Strawberry myrtle Caigua Ice-cream bean Churimo Inga striata Inga laurina Inga marginata Ingá-guaçú Inga vulpina Inga bullata Ramón Aguaje Pupunha Açaí palm Awara Macauba palm Maripa palm Bacaba Tucumã Patawa Juçara Cabeçudo Jelly palm Cashapona Palmito Hancornia Mamãozinho Jocote Genip Olosapo Cansaboca Sweet angelim Tarumã Marirana (Couepia subcordata) Ubaia (Eugenia patrisii) Ubajay Uvalha Umari Gravatá Wild pineapple Karatas Seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera) Guettarda pohliana Salacia elliptica Manilkara salzmannii Fine leafed cherry Cafezinho Eugenia gemmiflora Eugenia blastantha Eugenia heringeriana Eugenia leitonii 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 Osoberry 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 Golden berry Serviceberry
Nuts
Peanut (Arachis†) commarode Peanuts Cashew (Anacardium†) American chestnut Hickory (Carya) Black walnut (Juglans) Brazil nut (Bertholletia†) Butternut or White Walnut (Juglans cinerea) Many species of Acorns – seeds of the genus Quercus Oak Baru nut Egg nut Agouti nut Sapucaia 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 Indian yam Jicama Yacón 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 Valerian, not actual tobacco) Wapato – several species of Sagittaria Wild Onion – several native species, such as Ramps and Meadow Garlic Potato 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 Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) Naranjilla Tomatillo Yacón Açai Bacaba Cocona (Solanum sessiliflorum) Tacaco (Sechium tacaco)
See also Columbian Exchange List of food origins New World crops
References