12 Most Common Eggplants to Grow

If you've only ever bought eggplants at the grocery store, you might assume they're all the same size, shape, and color: big, oblong, and deep purple. If you stroll through a farmer's market in the middle of summer, you'll find it's far from what you'd expect. There are countless variations, each unique in its own way. We've selected 15 of our favorite eggplants to share to inspire you to learn more about eggplant varieties the next time you find them at the market, or to inspire you to plant one of these based on the characteristics below.

1. Little Green Eggplants

This variety is spherical, plump, and pale green in color. It cooks exceptionally creamy and has a mild flavor. Any dish that calls for regular eggplant can use it.

2. Globe eggplant

Globe eggplants, also known as American eggplants, can be found in most supermarkets. They are much darker and broader than other varieties and have a tougher, meatier texture than others. They can be sliced into a large dish like eggplant parmesan or used as a substitute for protein or bread.

3. Italian eggplant

Italian eggplants have shiny, deep purple skin and can be elongated pear-shaped, or almost cylindrical. This low-calorie vegetable has a mild taste and meatiness. It can be grilled, fried, or sauteed but never eaten uncooked.

4. Japanese eggplant

The long, thin fruit of the Japanese eggplant is distinguished by its delicate skin and small seed content. Compared to some ordinary eggplants in the grocery store, the mild, mild-flavored flesh is less bitter.

5. Ping Tung Eggplant

A Taiwanese type of eggplant called Bing Tung, the smooth-skinned, reddish-purple fruits can grow up to 18 inches long and about 2 inches wide. A delicious option for grilling or blending sweet, tender meats.

6. Rosa Bianca Eggplant

The fruits of this beautiful Italian heirloom are large, spherical, 5-6″ long, and rosy-lavender with a white shade. The fruit's firm shape and mild, non-bitter flavor make it perfect for slicing, baking, or grilling.

7. Graffiti Eggplant

Graffiti eggplants are small and teardrop shaped. Their length varies from 7 to 15 cm. The outer skin is streaked with violet and ivory white and is shiny, thin, and soft—the tiny, edible seeds inside are creamy to pale white flesh.

8. Santana eggplant

The surface of the smooth, teardrop-shaped fruit has few or no spines. Whether it's colder or hotter than usual, Santana does well with no restrictions.

9. Tango eggplant

Tango eggplant may remind you of an egg or a pear. However, Tango eggplants have more flavor as they mature and turn yellow with a firmer texture. Tango eggplants are edible, but you should know that their skin is not.

10. Thai Eggplant

From long and cylindrical to small and round, Thai eggplants come in a wide range of sizes, colors, and shapes, just like this particular variety. Following the purple star-shaped flower, these beautiful fruits grow to 1 to 2 inches in size with shiny, green, and white skin.

11. Indian eggplant

Usually cultivated as an annual, eggplant has an erect, bushy stem that is occasionally studded with spines. Large, ovate, and somewhat lobed describe the leaves. Typical single-hanging violet flowers are about 5 cm (2 in) wide.

12. White Eggplant

White eggplants are oblong and slightly curved, averaging 10-17 cm in length. The outer skin is dazzlingly white and smooth and has a bulbous tip that gradually gives way to a green flower. The inner flesh is cream-colored and filled with numerous, edible white seeds.