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Edible Landscaping

In addition to domesticated grapes, apples, pears, peaches, cherries and apricots, there are many options for edible landscaping. Try some of these:

Large Trees

• American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) native, and Chinese Chestnut (C. mollissima)
• Butternut (Juglans cinera), native
• Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) native
• Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), native
• Walnut (Juglans nigra), native **All parts of the Black Walnut emit a toxin that can kill or stunt many common garden plants up to 80 feet away

Small trees and large shrubs

• American Cranberrybush Viburnum (Viburnum trilobum), native large shrub, fruits
• American Hazelnut (Corylus americana, C. cornuta), native large shrub
• American Plum (Prunus americana), native small tree
• Common Fig (Ficus carica), large shrub, needs protection from winter winds
• Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas), small tree, berries
• Hazelnut/Filbert (Corylus avellana), large shrub
• Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), native small tree, fruits
• Quince (Chaenomeles speciousa, Pseudocydonia sinensis, Cydonia oblonga), large shrub, fruits
• Serviceberry (Amelanchier species), native small tree, berries

Small Shrubs

• Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), native small shrub
• Raspberry, Blackberry (Rubus species), small thorny thicket-forming shrub

Vines

• Grape (Vitis selections)
• Hardy Kiwi (Actinidia arguta)

Perennials

• Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), young stems
• Common Daylily (Hemerocallis fulva), roots/tubers and flowers
• Jerusalem Artichoke/Sunchoke (Helianthus tuberosum), native sunflower, roots/tubers
• Rhubarb (Rheum rhubarbarum, R. x cultorum), leaf stems –all other parts are poisonous
• Strawberries (Fragaria x ananussa)
• Thyme (Thymus vulgaris, T. citriodorus), foliage
• Ostrich, Cinnamon & Royal Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris, Osmunda cinnamomea & O. regalis), emerging fronds/fiddleheads/croziers

Ornamental Edible Annuals

• Basil Purple Ruffles
• Peppers –bush type with small colorful fruits such as Tabasco or Tangerine Dream
• Red and Green Leaf Lettuce
• Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus), annual vine, flowers & beans, attracts hummingbirds
• Sunflower (Hellianthis annuus), seeds
• Swiss Chard Bright Lights

 

If you are feeling more adventurous:

• Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium), native large shrub, fruits
• Dandelions, sheep sorrel & dock, weeds, tender new leaves
• Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), native shrub, fruit
• Ginko (Ginko biloba), large tree, fruits
• Hardy Orange (Poncirus trifoliata), large shrub or small thorny tree, fruits
• Kentucky Coffeetree (Gymnocladus dioicus), native large tree, seed used for coffee substitute
• Korean Pine (Pinus koreana), large evergreen, cones contain pinenuts
• Linden (Tilia species), large tree, some people eat the tender young leaves
• Mespilus (Mespilus germanica), small tree, fruit
• Passion Flower/Maypops (Passiflora incarnata), native vine, fruits
• Prickly Pear Cactus (Opunta humisifolia), native Delaware cactus, pads and fruit
• Sassafrass (Sassafrass albidum), native tree, bark of roots is used for tea, candy
• Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), shrub, fruits are used for juice
• Sea Kale (Crambe maritima), perennial, leaves
• Sugar Maple (Acer saccarum) native large tree, sap used for syrup & candy
• Tea (Camelia sinensis), large evergreen shrub, tea is made from this plant

 

Find information online for growing and harvesting. Your local Cooperative Extension service is a good place to start for information on domesticated nuts, fruits and vegetables.