Edible plants are no longer tucked
away in a vegetable garden behind the garage. With the introduction in recent
years of cultivars that offer improved growth habits and forms, many edibles can
serve as stand-alone plants that make an attractive addition to your landscape.
Typically, new edibles are developed to be hardier and more disease-resistant
than old varieties. Many are more compact, so they fit comfortably in tight
spaces or in containers. In certain parts of the
country, such as California and
Florida, combining edibles with ornamentals is increasingly common. Adding edibles doesn’t have to be an all-or nothing
approach.
Consider some of these recently introduced
edibles to spice up your landscape designs.
Roman Beauty Rosemary
Dwarf evergreen shrub has
arching stems with silvery
undersides.
Drapes nicely over rock
walls or containers. Soft
blue
flowers. Deer-resistant.
Hardy in poor
soil, drought and salt
spray. Grows
12 to 24 inches tall and
wide.
Raspberry Shortcake
Charming, new dwarf variety has a
dense,compact
mounding shape. Thornless canes make
berries easy to pick. Thrives in
containers
or in the landscape without staking.
Doesn’t need a companion pollinator.
Spreads 2 to 3 feet tall and wide.
There are many other edibles that can spruce up your landscape, from fruits to vegetables. A few other suggestions are as simple and yummy as: tomatoes, peppers, cumbers, bright lights swiss chard and cha cha chives. Adding edibles does not have to be an all-or nothing approach, a little edible color here and there is all you need. These edible beauties can be incorporated in both commercial and residential landscape designs.
