Here are the key takeaways about integrating food and beauty in your garden:
- Edible ornamentals combine aesthetic appeal with practical food production.
- Many common ornamental plants offer delicious, edible parts often overlooked.
- Exploring gardens with an “edible eye” reveals unexpected culinary treasures.
- Adding edible ornamentals can make your landscape more productive and engaging.
Imagine strolling through a beautifully designed garden, admiring the vibrant flowers, interesting foliage, and graceful forms… and knowing you could nibble on a petal here, pluck a berry there, or harvest leaves for your salad! This is the exciting world of edible ornamentals, plants chosen for their beauty as much as their bounty. From a recent visit to explore stunning gardens, I was reminded just how much delicious potential is often hidden in plain sight within purely “ornamental” landscapes. It’s a perspective that transforms a passive viewing experience into an active discovery of nature’s generosity, even in cultivated spaces.
Contents
- The Unexpected Joy of Finding Food in Flower Beds
- Edible Gems Hiding in Plain Sight
- Pineapple Guava
- Prickly Pear Cactus
- Virginia Spiderwort
- Joseph’s Coat
- Cholla Cactus
- Daylilies
- Bamboo
- Purple Poppy Mallow
- Loquat
- Edible Canna
- Passion Flower
- Magenta Spreen
- Persimmon
- Agarita
- Silver Pony Foot
- Yucca
- Grape Vine
- Embrace the Edible Landscape!
The Unexpected Joy of Finding Food in Flower Beds
For years, my passion has leaned more towards the practical side of plants – the ones you can eat! So when visiting exquisite, manicured gardens, my eyes naturally scan for familiar forms that I know hold culinary secrets. It’s a different way to appreciate a landscape; not just for its color palettes and structural design, but for the hidden larder it might contain. This perspective often leads to delightful surprises and the chance to taste plants outside my usual foraging grounds. While it might occasionally raise an eyebrow from garden purists or fellow visitors more focused on bloom cycles and pruning techniques, the joy of connecting beauty and sustenance is simply irresistible. It’s about recognizing that the line between a “food garden” and a “flower garden” is beautifully blurred by edible ornamentals.
Garden visitors walking through a lush ornamental garden, exploring plant possibilities.
Edible Gems Hiding in Plain Sight
Gardens everywhere, if you look closely, are often dotted with plants that serve a dual purpose. They provide stunning visual interest while also offering tasty treats. Here are some examples of edible ornamentals that caught my eye and my taste buds, showcasing the incredible potential for combining beauty and harvest right in your yard:
Pineapple Guava
A beautiful evergreen shrub or small tree with striking flowers.
- Scientific Name:
Feijoa sellowiana - Common Name:
Pineapple Guava, Feijoa - Zone:
USDA 8-10 - Light:
Full sun to partial shade - Humidity:
Moderate - Water:
Moderate
The thick, waxy petals of its gorgeous flowers offer a sweet, cinnamon-like flavor, perfect for snacking or adding to syrups. Later in the year, the fruit provides a unique, tropical taste that is completely different but equally delightful.
Close-up of a beautiful pink and white pineapple guava flower (Feijoa sellowiana) on a branch, highlighting edible petals.
Prickly Pear Cactus
An iconic desert plant with broad pads.
- Scientific Name:
Opuntia spp. - Common Name:
Prickly Pear, Nopales, Tunas - Zone:
USDA 4-11 (species dependent) - Light:
Full sun - Humidity:
Low - Water:
Low
The young pads, called nopales, are a common and tasty vegetable once the spines are removed. While the pads can be harvested relatively early, you’ll need to wait a bit longer for the delicious, often brightly colored fruit known as ‘tunas’ to ripen.
Closer view of the green pads of a prickly pear cactus (Opuntia species) growing in a garden, useful for edible nopales.
Virginia Spiderwort
A charming native perennial known for its three-petaled flowers.
- Scientific Name:
Tradescantia virginiana - Common Name:
Virginia Spiderwort - Zone:
USDA 4-9 - Light:
Partial shade to full sun - Humidity:
Moderate - Water:
Moderate
Beyond its delicate blooms, this plant offers edible shoots in the early spring, providing a fresh, green addition to your seasonal harvests.
Purple flowers and green foliage of Virginia Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana), known for its edible early spring shoots.
Joseph’s Coat
A stunning annual amaranth with vibrant, multicolored foliage.
- Scientific Name:
Amaranthus tricolor - Common Name:
Joseph's Coat, Edible Amaranth - Zone:
Typically grown as an annual (USDA 9-11) - Light:
Full sun - Humidity:
Moderate - Water:
Moderate
While grown for its showy leaves, this variety of amaranth is also a valuable edible green, offering both beauty and nutrition throughout the growing season.
Vibrant red and green leaves of Joseph's Coat (Amaranthus tricolor), a colorful ornamental and edible green.
Cholla Cactus
Recognizable by its cylindrical stem segments and formidable spines.
- Scientific Name:
Cylindropuntia spp. - Common Name:
Cholla Cactus, Chain-fruit Cholla - Zone:
USDA 7-10 (species dependent) - Light:
Full sun - Humidity:
Low - Water:
Very Low
Before their beautiful flowers fully open, the buds of many cholla species can be harvested. After carefully removing the spines and glochids (small barbed bristles), the buds are edible and can even be dried for later use.
Cylindrical segments and spines of a Cholla cactus (Cylindropuntia species), known for edible flower buds.
Daylilies
A garden staple cherished for its profusion of colorful blooms.
- Scientific Name:
Hemerocallis fulva - Common Name:
Orange Daylily, Tawny Daylily - Zone:
USDA 3-9 - Light:
Full sun to partial shade - Humidity:
Moderate - Water:
Moderate
Known as an “edible superstar,” the common orange daylily has multiple edible parts – from the spring shoots and unopened flower buds (scapes) to the fresh flowers themselves and the tubers. A truly versatile plant for the edible landscape.
Cluster of vibrant orange Daylily flowers (Hemerocallis fulva) in bloom, a popular and surprisingly edible perennial.
Bamboo
Prized for its fast growth and architectural form, used for screening or accent.
- Scientific Name:
Phyllostachys spp. - Common Name:
Running Bamboo - Zone:
USDA 5-10 (species dependent) - Light:
Full sun to partial shade - Humidity:
Moderate to High - Water:
Moderate
Many varieties of bamboo, particularly in the Phyllostachys genus, produce delicious and crunchy edible shoots in the spring, offering a taste of the exotic right from your garden edge (be mindful of running types!).
Dense stand of tall bamboo culms (Phyllostachys species), some varieties offer edible shoots in spring.
Purple Poppy Mallow
A beautiful native groundcover with cup-shaped, magenta flowers.
- Scientific Name:
Callirhoe involucrata - Common Name:
Purple Poppy Mallow, Winecups, Rose Mallow - Zone:
USDA 4-8 - Light:
Full sun - Humidity:
Low to Moderate - Water:
Low
Often seen trailing beautifully over walls or acting as groundcover, this plant has surprising edible roots. Its starchy tuber can be harvested and used in various ways, including as a base for a type of hummus.
Vibrant purple cup-shaped flower of Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata), a beautiful groundcover with edible roots.
Loquat
An attractive evergreen tree with fragrant flowers and abundant fruit.
- Scientific Name:
Eriobotrya japonica - Common Name:
Loquat - Zone:
USDA 8-10 - Light:
Full sun to partial shade - Humidity:
Moderate - Water:
Moderate
A popular ornamental tree in warmer climates, the loquat tree provides clusters of sweet, tangy fruit in late spring or early summer. Finding a tree laden with perfectly ripe loquats is always a treat!
Cluster of ripe orange loquat fruits (Eriobotrya japonica) hanging on a branch, ready for harvest.
Edible Canna
While many Canna varieties are purely ornamental, Canna edulis is grown specifically for its starchy rhizome.
- Scientific Name:
Canna edulis - Common Name:
Edible Canna, Achira - Zone:
USDA 7-10 (or treat as annual) - Light:
Full sun - Humidity:
Moderate to High - Water:
High
Looking similar to its ornamental cousins with lush foliage, this plant yields large tubers that can be roasted and enjoyed as a starchy vegetable, much like a potato.
Tall green foliage and red flowers of Edible Canna (Canna edulis), valued for its starchy tubers.
Passion Flower
A vigorous vine featuring some of the most exotic and beautiful flowers imaginable.
- Scientific Name:
Passiflora incarnata - Common Name:
Passion Flower, Maypop - Zone:
USDA 6-9 - Light:
Full sun - Humidity:
Moderate - Water:
Moderate
Beyond the stunning blooms that attract pollinators, many passionflower species produce edible fruit. Passiflora incarnata, known as Maypop, yields a seedy but flavorful fruit often used in drinks and desserts.
Detailed view of the intricate purple and white flower of Maypop Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata), which yields edible fruit.
Magenta Spreen
An eye-catching relative of spinach with vibrant magenta new leaves.
- Scientific Name:
Chenopodium giganteum 'Magenta Spreen' - Common Name:
Magenta Spreen, Tree Spinach - Zone:
Typically grown as an annual - Light:
Full sun to partial shade - Humidity:
Moderate - Water:
Moderate
This striking plant adds a splash of color to borders and vegetable patches alike. Its young leaves are tender and can be eaten raw or cooked, similar to spinach, making it a truly beautiful edible green.
Striking magenta and green foliage of Chenopodium giganteum 'Magenta Spreen', a beautiful and edible leafy green.
Persimmon
Deciduous trees known for their attractive form and delicious fall fruit.
- Scientific Name:
Diospyros spp. - Common Name:
Persimmon - Zone:
USDA 4-10 (species dependent) - Light:
Full sun - Humidity:
Moderate - Water:
Moderate
While you have to wait until they are fully ripe (often after a frost for native species) to avoid astringency, persimmons are a sweet and flavorful fruit. The trees are also lovely additions to the landscape, providing shade and seasonal interest.
Green persimmon fruits (Diospyros species) developing on a tree branch, waiting to ripen.
Agarita
An evergreen shrub with spiny, holly-like leaves and bright red berries.
- Scientific Name:
Mahonia trifoliolata - Common Name:
Agarita - Zone:
USDA 7-9 - Light:
Full sun to partial shade - Humidity:
Low - Water:
Very Low
This tough, drought-tolerant shrub provides fragrant yellow flowers in spring followed by clusters of tart red berries in late spring/early summer. The berries are edible and great for making jellies, jams, or drinks – so good, they might tempt you to sample a few right off the bush!
Bright red berries on a branch of Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata), an evergreen shrub with edible fruit.
Silver Pony Foot
A popular groundcover with attractive silver foliage.
- Scientific Name:
Dichondra argentea - Common Name:
Silver Pony Foot - Zone:
USDA 8-11 (often grown as annual) - Light:
Full sun to partial shade - Humidity:
Moderate - Water:
Moderate
While primarily grown for its cascading silver leaves, its close relative, Dichondra carolinensis (Carolina Ponyfoot), is known to have mildly edible greens. This highlights the potential for discovering edibility even among plants we consider purely ornamental, often prompting further research and careful experimentation.
![Silvery, kidney-shaped leaves of Silver Pony Foot (Dichondra argentea) covering the ground, primarily ornamental but with edible relatives.] (https://backyardforager.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/MG_3380-1024×683.jpg)
Yucca
Bold, architectural plants with stiff leaves and tall flower stalks.
- Scientific Name:
Yucca spp. - Common Name:
Yucca - Zone:
USDA 4-10 (species dependent) - Light:
Full sun - Humidity:
Low - Water:
Low
The impressive flower stalks of many Yucca species produce beautiful, creamy-white blossoms. These flowers are edible! Remember to remove the pistils and stamens before lightly sautéing them – they are often used in traditional dishes like quesadillas.
Tall flower stalk emerging from the spiky foliage of a Yucca plant (Yucca species), its blossoms are edible.
Grape Vine
Classic vining plants grown for fruit, but also used ornamentally on arbors and trellises.
- Scientific Name:
Vitis spp. - Common Name:
Grape Vine - Zone:
USDA 4-10 (species dependent) - Light:
Full sun - Humidity:
Moderate - Water:
Moderate
Whether trained over an arbor for shade or grown for fruit, grape vines offer dual appeal. You can harvest unripe grapes early in the season to make tart verjuice, or wait for them to sweeten into classic fruit perfect for snacking, juice, or preserves.
Clusters of green, unripe grapes (Vitis species) hanging from a vine.
Embrace the Edible Landscape!
Exploring the world of edible ornamentals opens up a whole new dimension in gardening. It encourages you to see plants not just for their visual appeal, but for the sustenance and flavor they can provide. From striking flowers and colorful foliage to hidden roots and developing fruits, these plants prove that you don’t have to sacrifice beauty for bounty. Integrating them into your landscape adds interest, encourages interaction with your garden, and provides fresh, seasonal treats just steps from your door.
Ready to transform your garden into a space that is both beautiful and delicious? Start small, perhaps by adding a few of these dual-purpose plants. You might be surprised at how rewarding it is to grow beauty you can eat!
What are your favorite edible ornamentals? Share your experiences and discoveries in the comments below!
