Trees & Bushes With Edible Leaves

Deciduous Trees

• Edible deciduous trees lose their leaves in the winter. The Chinese toon or cedrela (Cedrela sinsensis or Toona sinensis) has edible leaves. This fast-growing deciduous tree is native to China and has exfoliating bark. It thrives in sun to partial shade and tolerates a variety of soils. Chinese toons have pinnately compound leaves that emerge a purple-red, turn green in summer, and turn yellow in fall. The new foliage of beech trees (Fagus spp.) can be cooked and eaten as greens in spring. Beech trees are native to North America, Europe and Asia and grow in a range of sizes and shapes, from the 80-foot-tall American beech (F. grandfolia) to the weeping European beech (F. sylvatica f. pendula), which has an umbrella-like canopy of pendulous branches. Young leaves and buds of the sassafras (Sassafras albidum) can be eaten raw. This deciduous native tree grows to 60 feet tall and attracts birds and butterflies.

Evergreen Trees

• Edible evergreen trees, or trees that keep their foliage year-round, include the yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria). This drought- and salt-tolerant evergreen grows to 20 feet tall and has dark, glossy foliage. Young yaupon holly leaves can be browned or dried in an oven and eaten. The coral bean (Erythrina herbacea) is native to the southern United States and Mexico. In cooler regions, it grows as a semi-evergreen shrub, but this prickly plant grows as an evergreen tree in warmer climates. Its young foliage can be cooked and ingested. Coral beans grow well in a range of soils and bloom with bright flowers that attract hummingbirds.

Shrubby Herbs

• A few herbs commonly used in cooking grow in shrub form. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) grows from 3 to 4 feet tall with a similar spread. This evergreen shrub has aromatic gray-green to dark-green, needle-like foliage that can be used to flavor a variety of foods. Rosemary tolerates salt and drought, resists deer damage and thrives in sun to light shade. English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) grows to 2 feet tall with a 3-foot spread. This drought-tolerant shrub has evergreen, gray-green foliage with a strong aroma and can be used for a range of cooking purposes. Lavender grows best in full sun and well-drained soil.

Other Edible Shrubs

• The leaves of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.) can be cut into pieces and fried, baked or roasted. Native to the southwestern U.S. and Mexico, this succulent shrub has spiny, pad-like foliage and grows well in xeriscapes. Ornamental varieties include the nopal prickly pear (O. engelmannii var. lindheimeri), which grows to 3 1/2 feet tall. The leaves of the tea camellia (Camellia sinensis) are used to make tea. This heat- and drought-tolerant evergreen grows to 6 feet tall with a similar spread and is often grown for its fragrant white flowers and dark, glossy foliage.