Don’t let your flower beds go to waste! Fill them with beautiful plants that will fill up space and provide food for you.
You can either stick around on what’s currently there or make some new friends in the form of leafy greens, fruits trees/shrubs (whatever is best suited), herbs from pots – anything is great as long as it has good nutrients and smells good too.
If you want to create an edible landscape, these 40 suggestions are the perfect place to get started.
Herbs
Once you get your herb plants up and running, they’ll grow like weeds. You can use them for full ground cover or contain the growth in a pretty pot!
Mint is a great way to add flavor and aroma when foraging. It can also help boost your mood in moments of need because it’s so uplifting!
Rosemary is a herb that can be used to add flavor and aroma to any dish. It has been known as the ” king of spices”, because it’s so versatile!
Thyme is a spice that you can use in many dishes to add flavor. When the thyme plants blossom, little purple flowers will appear and it’s really beautiful!
Basil is a versatile herb that can be used in both sweet and savory dishes. There are many different types of basil, but all grow easily if they’re kept moist! Watch out for pest problems though.
Cilantro is a great plant for attracting wildlife. Planting cilantro out in the garden will not only keep pesky bugs away, it can also provide an easy way to snack on these beneficial insects!
Ginger – We eat the root of ginger, but have you ever seen what this little plant does? It grow out into gorgeous flower heads with beautiful red petals and green leaves!
Veggies
For any edible landscape, it’s essential to plant vegetables that require little maintenance.
Beets – I love the vibrant colors of beets in my garden. The green leaves are so pretty that you almost don’t want to pick them, but when I do…the possibilities seem endless!
Artichoke – One of the most unique plants in your edible landscape is an artichoke. They have meaty leaves and can provide a nutritional boost like no other plant does for its height, width or length!
Green beans grow so easily! They’re a cute little plant that you can even grow in a shoe box. Plant your seeds and give them some water, then wait for about two weeks before removing the lid on top of their pot to see how high they are growing!
Salad greens are a wonderful space filler when you have an uninteresting patch of soil to cover. The green vegetables grow big and beautiful, ready for harvesting after only one week!
Hot Peppers – You can grow peppers in a pot or plant them directly into the soil. If it starts to wilt, just take out those unhealthy looking leaves and dry off for later use!
Bell Peppers – Do you know that the colors of green, yellow and red bell peppers all come from one plant? Each color represents a phase in their life cycle.
Cabbage is a super-easy crop to grow and it tastes amazing! You can even make fun of your friends with this plant as they are thrown around for soccer balls.
Avocado – If you’re looking for something easy to grow but still have the potential of a huge payoff, try your hand at growing avocados. All it takes is water and soil in an empty mason jar (or any other wide mouth container) as well as some patience from start-to finish!
Carrots are a great addition for any garden because of their beautiful color and nutrients. Add carrots to your other edible plants, too!
Chives are an herb that grows abundantly and makes for easy cultivation, like its native home in Asia. They boast fresh leaves year-round with occasional purple blossom flowers to add beauty as well!
Potato – The potato is a versatile plant that will grow in any environment. The great thing about this vegetable? It can be stored for long periods of time and still taste fresh!
Kale is a hardy plant that grows well even in colder months thanks to its leaf color and shape, which gives any landscape an interesting finish no matter what the season may be like!
Mushrooms – All you need are spawn plugs and logs, trees or stumps. Your whole property will be an edible forest!
Fruit
Blueberries – The blueberry shrub is not only beautiful, but it also makes a great addition to the landscape and offers many benefits. The berries can grow up on trees or be grown in pots for those without access outdoors during certain months of year.
Strawberries – The strawberries are a great fruit for the summer. They love hot weather, so if you’ve got that going on your side then start growing them in their natural state!
Crabapples – The crabapples tree is a great addition to your landscape. The flowers are bright and the fruit make delicious ciders, perfect snacks or additions for desserts!
Blackberries are a pesky invasive species that you should contain with wire cages and clip the branches back often. The berries sure do wonders, don’t they?
Persimmons are a great addition to any landscape. The fruit, which can be eaten fresh or made into jams and compotes, is easy to jar for storage requirements!
Mandarin Oranges have an interesting history. They are said to be native only in the Chinese region, but now they’re grown all over Asia and even California! Mandarin oranges grow really well if you give them plenty of room with enough sun exposure for their branches to fruit freely.
Tropical Plants
It’s important to know the best plant species for your location.
Check out the list below, from the ones that do well in hot, humid weather areas like Florida and Hawaii as these will thrive under a climate similar to their native one!
Wild betel leaves – In Asian cooking, wild betel leaves are often chopped up and added to a stir-fry or used like foil. They can also be found in many different dishes that require wrapper such as dumplings!
Torch Ginger is a gorgeous bright pink flower that contains 4.5 grams of carbohydrate per 100 grams and adds an absolutely stunning touch to any landscape or garden!
Lead Tree is a type of herb that grows in pods. Inside these pods are little peanut-like nuts often used for chili sauce or eaten raw!
Prickly Pear Cactus is a fabulous plant. It’s nutritious and sweet, with just enough tartness to make your margaritas perfect at your next gathering!
Wild asparagus – A deliciously exotic addition to any dish, wild asparagus is a thinner variety that grows easily and contains many nutrients. It’s best enjoyed when it still has its crisp leaves!
Fireweed is a quick-growing plant that can provide an eye catching touch of purple in your landscape. It’s also peppery tasting and has young leaves you may enjoy for their tenderness!
Plantain plants are a great way to add extra vitamins and minerals into your diet! They grow leaves that can measure 6 inches long by 4 inches wide. The plant itself is also rich in vitamin A, C & calcium which will help you stay healthy no matter what mood may be taking over at any given time of year!
Colocasia is a plant that contains many amino acids and medicinal benefits. The leaves can be used for relieving coughs as well as digestive problems.
Water Lily – One of the best plants for a pond is called Water Lily. It’s not hard to grow, and its seeds are full of carbohydrates that can help fuel our bodies with energy!
Lemons are not exactly tropical, but they do best in humid weather. You can space them a few feet apart and then trim away at the branches to create hedges of perfection!
Self-Sustaining Edible Plants
If you are busy and don’t have much time to care for plants, try growing these varieties and still enjoy some greenery, while providing minimum attention to the plants.
Dandelion is considered an annoying weed by most, but it offers more than just that. You can actually make dandelion tea as a digestive aid and use them to improve your appetite!
Purslane – You might not have realized it before, but you can pick the plant called Purslane and eat its leaves raw. They provide a decent amount of calories for your diet!
Wood Sorrel can be used to cure mouth sores, alleviate thirst and provide a nice source of vitamin C that when boiled taste like potatoes.
Sheep sorrel plants add a lot of tart lemon flavor to whatever raw bouquet you’re creating.
Cattails – Wow! You never knew that cattails are edible. The brown flower can be boiled and eaten like corn on the cob, while also providing an earthy flavor to your meal; but not just for aesthetic purposes either- their rootstalk tastes pretty good too if you slice or break it off before consuming any part of this pond plant.
Edible landscapes are not just a way to get rid of weeds, but can also be beautiful and beneficial. When picking plants for your edible landscape make sure you select flowers that will brighten up even the grumpiest day with their beauty!