Royal Burgundy' and 'Royalty Purple Pod' bear dark purple pods which also turn green when cooked. There are hundreds of old and new cultivars of dry beans with a multitude of colors and color patterns. While the plants are not necessarily ornamental, they can be stored in jars to add color to the kitchen. Though not overly popular in the Midwest, okra does have ornamental, as well as culinary, value. The plants have 2 to 3 inch yellow flowers, similar to hibiscus, to which they are related.
Cultivars come tall or shorticulture with red or green pods.
Even those who do not like eating okra may find the mature dried pods beautiful in dried flower arrangements. Eggplant Eggplant comes in many shapes and colors. Look in specialty seed catalogs to find unusual, yet edible, additions for your garden. Perennial Border 1. Thyme, variegated lemon 6.