An Introduction to Edible Landscaping

Posted on 2023-12-272023-12-27 by Bert Swope

Just as the name suggests, ‘edible landscaping’ is a phrase that describes the process of filling a residential landscape with herbs, fruits, and vegetables. Rather than planting ornamentals, the goal is to introduce edible options and then enjoy them on your dining table.

As long as a plant produces food, it has a place in an edible landscape. However, this doesn’t mean completely wiping the existing garden that you’ve worked so hard to create. For many, they choose to incorporate food-producing plants into their current space, and this can include berry bushes, herbs, vegetables, nut trees, and edible flowers. Whether you choose a 50/50 strategy, a full edible landscape, or even 80/20 for edible plants, this is entirely up to you!

Why Choose Edibles?

Now we know what an edible landscape entails, why should you consider it for your garden or yard? In truth, there are many reasons (aside from the fact your whole family can enjoy home-grown fruits and vegetables, of course!).

While some people like to save money on grocery bills, others want to be in control of what they’re eating rather than taking a risk with purchased products (with regards to herbicides and pesticides). Elsewhere, you might want to grow foods you can’t get in local stores or offer some food options for those days when you can’t get to the shops.

Finally, we shouldn’t ignore those who want to get outside and connect with nature once more. Whether with kids or alone, creating an edible landscape can be great fun.

Landscaping with Edibles

The best locations to start an edible landscape have the following;

• At least six hours of sunlight
• Well-drained soil

Rather than making grand plans and digging up the whole garden, we recommend starting with straight substitutions. If you planned to introduce chrysanthemums, for example, why not replace them with edible bachelor’s buttons? Eventually, fruit trees will replace shade trees and your edible landscape will start to take shape. Fortunately, the variety of shapes and sizes of edible plants are much the same as ornamental plants so the transition can be rather simple (regardless of the space you have available!).

Are Edible Landscapes Hard Work?

Rosemary and Sunflowers in a Shallow Raised Bead

Before we finish this brief guide with some fantastic ideas, you may be wondering whether an edible landscape is lots of hassle. If so, you should be aware that it will need a little more attention than ornamental landscapes. For example, the plants may need pest management, more water, pruning, and fertilization.

The hours you invest in an edible landscape will be repaid with the fresh, natural foods you’ll have available. What’s more, it can be seen as an investment because the cost of groceries should reduce.

Edible Landscaping Ideas

As long as you consider edible landscaping a hobby rather than a chore, and you’re willing to start small, you’ll soon grow attached to the plants. As you’re about to discover, the edible landscaping world is vast, so we encourage you to continue your research even after our ideas here!

Plant perennial herbs like rosemary, mexican oregano, mexican tarragon, mints, chives, and bay
Consider edible flower for salads such as borage, nasturtium, calendula, and violas
Introduce a full spectrum of colors with peppers
Fill a planter with annual herbs
Build a grape alcove
Plant fruit trees for fruit, flowers and shade
Fill hanging baskets or window boxes with cherry tomatoes
Fill a flower bed with radishes and lettuce
Decorate fences with pole beans, small vining pumpkins, cumbers or melons, Malabar Spinach, and don’t forget grapes

As an insight into the sheer number of options you have, our favorites include lemon thyme, blueberries, chives, apricots, rosemary, red currant, sweet woodruff, elderberry, gooseberry, garlic, and marjoram!

A Quick list of edible landscaping plants

Edible landscaping, also known as “foodscaping,” combines gardening with landscaping to grow plants with both aesthetic and culinary value. Here’s a list of popular edible landscaping plants:

Herbs — Common choices include rosemary, thyme, basil, and mint. They are not only culinary staples but also add texture and fragrance to gardens.
Leafy Greens — Kale, Swiss chard, and lettuce can be visually striking and are easy to grow.
Fruit Trees — Dwarf varieties of apple, cherry, and citrus trees are both ornamental and productive.
Berries — Raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry plants offer colorful fruits and can be used as groundcovers or in borders.
Vegetables — Certain vegetables like rainbow chard, purple cabbage, and artichokes are both edible and ornamental.
Edible Flowers — Nasturtiums, pansies, and marigolds can add a splash of color to your meals and your yard.
Vines and Climbers — Grapevines and kiwi vines can create beautiful green walls or trellises.
Nut Trees — Almond, walnut, and hazelnut trees provide shade as well as nuts.
Root Vegetables — Beets, carrots, and radishes have attractive foliage and colorful roots.
Perennial Vegetables — Asparagus and rhubarb are long-lasting plants that can form a part of the garden structure.

Remember to choose plants that are suitable for your climate and soil conditions. Edible landscaping can be a rewarding way to beautify your space and enjoy fresh, home-grown foods.