Edible Trees & Shrubs

Shade and Food

• Apple, peach, crabapple and cherry trees all produce fruit. But others offer both visual interest and edible produce. Black walnut trees grow to 80 feet, with foliage that is ferny and attractive. These trees produce a large edible nut that turns from green to brown before falling for harvest. Hickory trees grow to about 75 feet and produce a sweet, edible nut suitable for use in recipes calling for pecans or walnuts. Juneberry grows to 35 feet, flowers in the spring and produces a small berry similar to blueberries for pies and jams. American plum trees grow to 20 feet, do well in most soil, and produce tart red, orange or purple fruit that can be used in recipes.

Edible Shrbs

• The best-known fruit shrubs include blueberry, raspberry and blackberry. Varieties of each grow in warm to cool climates and produce different types of fruit. Select the best variety for your area by consulting with a nursery. More exotic and flavorful choices include elderberry; a shrub that grows like a hedge, from 5 to 10 feet tall and up to 8 feet wide. It flowers before producing berries for jellies, syrup and wine. Only the flowers and fruit are edible; the rest of the plant is poisonous. Quince grows 2 to 5 feet tall and requires full sun to perform best. Use the cooked fruit in pies and jams. Current and gooseberry shrubs grow to 10 feet if given enough sun. Guava is subtropical, grows well in the Pacific northwest and produces juice.

More Choices

• The strawberry tree grows to 30 feet tall, producing both flowers and fruit. Red mulberry trees produce a fruit similar to blackberries and grow to 40 feet tall. Fig trees are attractive, grow well and produce sweet fruit on flowers. The pawpaw tree grows to 20 feet and requires moisture and good soil. It flaunts a burgundy flower and a fruit similar to bananas for eating or baking.

Flowers and Vines

• Herbs and vines for the garden include kiwi, mint and grape. Wildflowers such as prickly pear, persimmon, some roses and sunflower produce edible flowers. Passion fruit grows on a vine and offers a striking and unusual flower before producing fruit for juice or eating. It can be grown in the garden or a greenhouse.