There is probably no other word used more freely than vigorous to describe a desirable attribute of a plant found in cultivation. Here are a few plants that show their vigorous nature no matter what nature throws at them. This vigorous nature translates to higher yields, faster growth as well as long term health.

Purple Ease Potato

Potatoes are not thought of as vigorous. How are your potatoes? Vigorous? What kind of question is that? Yet vigorous can happen. Purple Ease does that effortlessly. As of May 31, the plants are already three foot tall and have huge leaves. It is this vigorous growth that greatly increases the potato yields. Foliage health and strong square stems help this along to bring both fruit production for seed and heavy tuber production.

Ashe Magnolia

I was more than a little surprised this Florida native can grow in Michigan let alone be actually vigorous and healthy. I lost many of its macrophylla cousins over the last thirty years. The heat and wind and took them out completely. I found a forgotten plant recently surviving under an amur maackia honeysuckle colony out back where it is now slowly making its way to the bur oak canopy in that area. . Each leave is perfectly aligned with the sun to capture the maximum light which only adds to its vigor. The thick green leaves up to two foot long stay a rich green color even through a dry summer.

Big Hip Rose Almost all species roses are vigorous. They are grown from seed. There is no graft union and no issue with the innumerable species of insects that feed on the foliage which inevitably reduces vigor. Once the canes fruit for several years, they will begin to fail. Vigor kicks in and new sprouts can grow five feet in a season starting from the base of the plant. A small bud will quickly throw a sprout called a sucker. The sucker fruits in two years as the cane matures and produces branches and then flower buds.

Thicket Bean There are few beans that can grow forty feet in a single season. The thicket bean can easily do this. It is interesting to watch this vine produce so much foliage in a season. A wild species and crop relative can be cultivated. Under ideal conditions, its true potential is revealed with the production of huge volumes of foliage and flowers. People tend to fear vines. It is a force of nature that you cannot control. For some, it’s too much drama. But without it, there are few beans. Vigor equals beans.

I want to live in a world where beans fall from the sky. It would be a sign of a vigorous and healthy world.