10-Minute

University

EdibleLandscaping
Overview
Whenpeoplethinkaboutgrowingfoodinurban
areas,thefirstideaisgenerallytohidethe
vegetablegardensomewhereinthebackyard.
Ediblelandscapingoffersanalternativeto
conventionalresidentiallandscapes;edibleplants
canbejustasattractivewhileproducingfruitsand
vegetables.Onecaninstallanentirelyedible
landscapeorincorporatesomeedibleplantsinto
existinggardens.

Definition
Ediblelandscapingistheuseoffoodproducing
plantsintheresidentiallandscape.Itcombines
fruitandnuttrees,berrybushes,vegetables,
herbs,edibleflowers,andotherornamentalplants
intoaestheticallypleasingdesigns.Thesedesigns
canadoptanygardenstyleandmayinclude
anywherefrom1100%ediblespecimens.

Whylandscapewithedibles?
Enjoythefreshnessandflavorofhomegrown,
fullyripenedfruitsandvegetables
Controlthequantityandkindofpesticidesand
herbicidesusedonthefoodsyouconsume
Increasethefoodsecurityofyourhousehold
Saveongrocerybills
Growunusualvarietiesnotavailableinstores
Getoutside,interactwiththenaturalworld,
andhavefun

Thingstoconsider
Location
Mostfruitsandvegetablesrequire68hoursofsun
toproducewell.Someofthenativeplantssuchas
SalmonberryandThimbleberrycantakesome
shade,aswellasplantsthathaveedibleleaveslike
lettuceandkale.
Space
Besuretothinkaboutthematuresizeoftheplant.
Dwarforsemidwarftreesandsmallersizeshrubs

workwellinsmallspaces.Trellises,fences,and
arborsmakeuseofverticalspacetogrowedibles
trees,shrubs,andvines.
TimeandCare
Ediblesrequirecareatspecificphasesoftheir
growthtoremainproductive.Theywillrequire
bettersoil,carefulwateringandfertilizingatthe
righttimes,andvigilantmanagementofdiseases
andinsects.Thisisespeciallytruewhentheplants
areyoungorjustplanted.
Use
Knowwhentoharvestandbepreparedtousethe
abundancefromyourgarden.
Beauty
Ornamentalplantsofferawiderangeinflower
colors,foliageshape,textureandcolor.Witha
littleresearchitispossibletofindedibleswiththe
characteristicsyouvalue.Forexample:
1. LovethepinkblossomsonaDogwoodtree?
Appletreehasbeautifulpinkblossoms.
2. Enjoytheshapeanddeepredcolorofthe
leavesonaJapanesemaple?Blackelderberry
haslacy,blackishleaves.
3. LikethebrightredfallcolorofaBurningbush?
Blueberrybushesdothesame.
4. YearnforthebigleafHostasbutdonthave
enoughshade?Rhubarbplantsadddramawith
bigleavesinthesun.

Shortlistofedibleplants(*denotesnative)
SmallTrees(1020feet)
Apple:Choosefromsemidwarf,espalier,and
columnarforms,allhaveprettypinkblossomsin
spring.VarietiessuchasChehalis,Jonafree,
Liberty,Prima,Redfreeareresistanttoscab.
*BlackElderberry:Lacyblackishleavesarevery
attractive;fruitusedforjelly,syrup,wine.Good
fireresistantplant.
Cherry:Redorgoldenfruitsinsummer.Compact
formsavailableforsmallspace.Sufferfrom
bacterialcanker.Alsobirdslikecherriestoo!
Fig:Big,tropicallookingleaves.Diseasefree.
Pear:(AsianandEuropean):Whiteflowersinearly
spring.Asianpearstendnottohavedisease
problems.
Persimmon:Colorfulorangefruitsinthefall;no
diseaseproblems.

Plum:Ripefruitsmaybegreen,gold,red,purple.
BrooksandItalianvarietiesofEuropeanplumsare
easytogrow.Brownrotisthemostcommon
problem.
*Serviceberry:Clustersofwhiteflowersinearly
spring;fallcolorisbrilliantyellowtoorange.Itis
adaptabletowiderangeofsoiltypeandmoisture.

Shrubs(woody,perennials,annuals)(310feet)
Blueberry:Beautifulfallcolorandabundantfruits
insummer.Easytogrowandhasveryfewdisease
problems.
CurrentandGooseberry:Abundanceoftartberries
usedinjamsandjellies.Groweasilyinmediumto
heavysoilandawiderangeofsoilpH.
*Evergreenhuckleberry:Beautifulevergreenshrub
withbronzecoloredfoliage.Likesparttofull
shade.
Rhubarb:Largeinterestingleavesandredstems.
TheleavesofRhubarbarepoisonous,eatonlythe
stocks.
*Salmonberry:Ripeberriesarebrightorangeto
deepred.Naturalizeseasilybutneedstobe
controlledfromspreadingandtakingover.
Strawberrytree:Evergreenlargeshrubwithdark
greenglossyleavesandbrightredfruit.Flowersin
latefalltowinter;bestplacedinasheltered
location.
Tomato:Attractive,ediblefruitsinyellow,orange,
red,green,purple,blackcolorsandwiderangeof
shapes.Grownasanannualforthesummer
months,tomatoesneedsunandheattomature.
Avoidoverheadwateringtodiscouragedisease.

Vinesandotherclimbers
Grape(wineorseedlesstablegrapes):Attractive
foliagemakesgoodsummershadeoveranarboror
patio.Needharshannualpruningforgood
productivity.
Kiwi(Fuzzyandhardykiwi):Exoticfoliage,white
flowersinMay,andfruitsingreen,red,brown
colorsinfall.Mostneedverysturdystructureto
supportvigorousgrowth.Newsmaller,selffertile
varietiesareavailable.
Raspberry:Berriesaddbeautifulcolorinthe
summerandfall.Canesgrowfastandfillina
sunnyareainspringandsummer.Plantitinwell
drainedsoiltoavoidrootrot.

Marionberry:Ablackberrythatdoesnotgetoutof
control,developedatOSU.Specialtechniqueis
usedtotrainberrycanesontowire.
Cucumber:Whenallowedtoclimb,thecucumber
flowersandfruitmakeanicebackgroundplant.
Theygetthirstyinhotweatherandneedplentyof
water.
Polebean:Needsfullsunandgoodaircirculation
toavoidpowderymildew.Useinachildrensarea
tomaketeepeesandtunnels.

Groundcovers
Strawberry:Whiteflowersinspringandredfruits
insummer;strawberriesareshortlivedandneed
tobereplantedevery34years.
Lingonberry:Beautifulanddelicatelooking
evergreengroundcover.Theywillproducemore
fruitinfullsunbutwillgrowinpartshade.
Lettuce:Leafrangeincolorfromred,green,to
bluewithavarietyofforms.Lettucemaygoto
seedquicklyinhotweather;sowseedevery2
weekstohavecontinuedsupply.
Kale:Lacyleavesinred,purple,green,blue.Grows
bestfallintowinter.Amemberofthecabbage
familythatcanbeattackedbyfleabeetleand
cabbagemoth.
Swisschard:Brightlycoloredvarietiesarethe
queensofedibleornamentals.Beawarethatslugs
enjoySwisschardtoo.

AdditionalResources
ResourcesforedibleplantsintheNorthwest
OneGreenWorld,www.onegreenworld.com
RaintreeNursery,www.raintree.com
HomeOrchardSociety,
www.homeorchardsociety.org
SunsetWesternGardenBook
OregonStateUniversityExtensionService,
200WarnerMilneRoad,OregonCity;
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/ec
ClackamasCountyMasterGardeners,
www.clackamascountymastergardeners.org

MasterGardeneradvice
CallHomeHorticultureHelpline:5036558631
(ClackamasCo),5037252300(Washington
Co),5034454608(MultnomahCounty)