7 Essential Edible Plants for Living Green Hedges
Edible hedge plants combine the beauty of landscaping with the practical benefit of providing fresh food. These plants create a natural barrier, adding privacy and enhancing the view around any garden or yard.
With attractive foliage and useful crops, they serve both decorative and culinary purposes. They’re a sustainable choice, offering fresh ingredients just steps from your door.
Edible hedges support biodiversity, inviting pollinators and other beneficial insects. Here are 7 great edible hedge plants to try for both landscaping and fresh food benefits:
Blackberry
Blackberry plants offer more than just tasty fruits; they create formidable barriers that enhance your garden's security. With their dense growth, these shrubs form an effective shield against unwanted visitors, both human and pest alike.
You can enjoy the delightful sweetness of the berries while also benefiting from a natural protective fence around your space. The combination of flavor and function makes blackberries a wise choice for gardeners looking to boost both aesthetics and safety in their yards.
Adding this plant not only enriches your harvest but fortifies your outdoor area as well.
Hazelnut
Hazelnuts are exceptional additions to any garden, serving as effective natural barriers. These robust shrubs can grow up to 10 feet tall, offering excellent privacy while enriching your outdoor space.
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, they play a vital role in supporting local wildlife, enhancing biodiversity right in your yard. Growing hazelnuts not only beautifies the landscape but also creates a thriving ecosystem for various species.
Imagine nurturing such an environment that benefits both you and nature alike!
Natal Plum
Natal plum offers a delightful twist on traditional fruit. Resembling plums in appearance yet tasting more like cranberries, its unique flavor adds intrigue to any dish.
This evergreen plant showcases dense foliage that not only provides an attractive hedge but also emits a pleasant fragrance throughout the year. Enjoy these fruits fresh or elevate your culinary creations by incorporating them into pies and preserves for an extra burst of sweetness.
With both aesthetic appeal and versatility in cooking, natal plum deserves a spot in your garden or kitchen adventures.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate offers a unique addition to your garden with its delicious fruit and attractive foliage. Regular pruning encourages the growth of compact, bushy branches, creating an appealing hedge that can enhance any outdoor space.
This plant thrives in various conditions, making it adaptable for different climates. Its vibrant flowers not only beautify your landscape but also attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies.
Adding pomegranate to your collection promises both aesthetic pleasure and fruitful rewards throughout the growing season.
Elderberry
Elderberry serves as a fantastic choice for those looking to cultivate an edible hedge. Its dense growth not only provides ample berries that you and local birds can enjoy but also requires minimal upkeep, making it quite appealing.
The flowers of the elderberry plant draw in butterflies, enhancing your garden's biodiversity. This natural allure invites various wildlife, creating a lively atmosphere around your outdoor space.
Embracing elderberries means inviting both beauty and sustenance into your gardening experience.
Blueberry
Blueberries serve as an excellent choice for edible landscaping. With proper attention, these hardy plants can thrive for many years, yielding delicious fruit consistently each season.
Their low-maintenance nature makes them perfect even for novice gardeners seeking reliable harvests. Imagine walking through a garden filled with lush foliage and the sweet aroma of ripe berries beckoning you to indulge in their bounty.
Choosing blueberries not only beautifies your space but also offers tasty rewards over time.
Crabapple
Crabapple trees are a remarkable addition to any garden, showcasing stunning blooms that range from white to shades of pink and red. After flowering, these trees bear vibrant red fruits that remain through the winter months, providing visual interest even in colder seasons.
When properly pruned and shaped, crabapples can serve as effective natural barriers or screens in your landscape design. Their beauty not only enhances outdoor spaces but also invites wildlife into your yard.
You’ll find their seasonal transformations truly enchanting throughout the year.