Vegetables should not be restricted to the vegetable garden. Some plants not only yield delicious vegetables to eat, but are attractive grown as ornamentals as well. A good example of a beautiful ornamental edible is okra. Okra is a member of the hibiscus family, and features tall, majestic plants with hollyhock-like white, yellow, pink, or red flowers. The flowers last only one day, but mature into the edible pods we eat.

Often thought of as a Southern crop, okra actually has African roots. When slaves brought okra to the South in the 1700's, it was soon adopted into American cooking. The mucilaginous juice in the pods helps thicken broths, making it a favorite in stews and soup recipes such as gumbo. Okra is also tasty when roasted, sauteed, and grilled. It goes well when combined with other summer vegetables such as beans, sweet corn, and tomatoes. Plus, the plant and flowers offer an attractive option in your flower garden. The tall plants are great as a backdrop to shorter perennials, and some semi-dwarf varieties can even be grown in containers.

Most okra varieties grow between 5 and 6 feet tall and have sharp spines on the stems and pods. To make life easier on your hands, try growing spineless varieties. 'Clemson Spineless' is a standard Southern variety featuring straight, short, thick pods. 'Annie Oakley' is a hybrid version of 'Clemson Spineless'. It grows 4 feet tall and has spineless, slender pods. 'Emerald’ grows only 3- to 4-feet tall and has very tender pods.

While most okra varieties have green leaves, stems and pods, there is some variation. 'Burgundy' grows 4 feet tall and features red colored stems and pods with green leaves. The okra pods even hold their red color when cooked. The red stems and pods add a striking color contrast in the garden.

Not only can okra be grown in the perennial or annual flower border, it fits well in containers too. Semi-dwarf varieties such as 'Lee' can be planted in half whiskey barrel-sized containers. They take up less room than tomatoes. You can even plant cascading flowers, such as lobelia, and greens, such as lettuce, under the okra to fill out the pot.

Okra can be grown throughout the country as long as its needs are met. Okra loves the heat. Don't rush to plant seeds or plants in the ground until the soil temperature increases to at least 65° F. Okra seed has a hard coat and may be difficult to germinate. Soak the seed overnight in warm water to hasten germination.

In Northern areas start plants indoors 4 weeks before planting outdoors. Find a full sun location with well-drained soil. Planting in an area protected from northern and western winds will speed along okra's development. Cover the planting bed with black plastic mulch one week before planting to heat up the soil. Plant directly into holes poked in the plastic when you’re ready to plant. To protect seedlings from cool night temperatures, cover the bed with a clear plastic row cover and vent it during sunny days. Set out plants or thin seedlings so plants are 1 to 2 feet apart.