Edible Plants and Flowers in the Landscape
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Rosalind Creasy and The Edible Landscaping Movement
In 1982 Rosalind Creasy published "The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping and started a trend that continues even today. Homeowners with small lots want a nice landscape around their home but with growing environmental awareness of the true cost of acres of grass they also wanted landscaping that could do double or triple duty. Many wanted to be able to have a food garden for fresh vegetables, but without it taking up the whole backyard.
Enter the concept of edible landscapes. By carefully choosing trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials home owners can have their garden and eat it too! Many edible landscapes also follow permaculture design principles and organic gardening practices. Fruit and nut trees offer shade for south and west facing windows and decks, shrubs like blueberries might line a driveway while thorny plants like raspberry and blackberries become hedges along property lines.
Edible flowers and herbs mingle with vegetables like tomatoes, beans and artichokes as well as purely ornamental plants in free form beds or islands. By following the guidelines of an edible forest, with tall trees, then shorter ones, with shrubs planted under them and even lower growing plants under and around the shrubs a home owner can maximize space in the edible garden.
Rosalind's original book is now out of print, but there is a new edition to carry on the tradition of Edible Landscaping
Enter the concept of edible landscapes. By carefully choosing trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials home owners can have their garden and eat it too! Many edible landscapes also follow permaculture design principles and organic gardening practices. Fruit and nut trees offer shade for south and west facing windows and decks, shrubs like blueberries might line a driveway while thorny plants like raspberry and blackberries become hedges along property lines.
Edible flowers and herbs mingle with vegetables like tomatoes, beans and artichokes as well as purely ornamental plants in free form beds or islands. By following the guidelines of an edible forest, with tall trees, then shorter ones, with shrubs planted under them and even lower growing plants under and around the shrubs a home owner can maximize space in the edible garden.
Rosalind's original book is now out of print, but there is a new edition to carry on the tradition of Edible Landscaping
Edible Landscaping Plans
Edible gardens come in many different shapes and forms. They may be mostly container plants on a small deck or balcony. Or they may roam over an acre or two of land. They may incorporate such permaculture techniques as rain gardens where you channel runoff water to a low spot and plant things in that area that could use the extra water. They may utilize raised beds of various types.
A simple plan for many backyards is simply to line fruiting shrubs along the boundaries, with an occasional fruit tree sited to give shade where needed. Then border the shrubs with vegetables, herbs and edible flowers, leaving a section of grass in the center for the children to play in.
Of course edible landscaping will take on many different looks depending on the climate and site of the garden. Using plants that are well adapted to the area lessens the amount of care that they need. An edible garden in a tropical area of course will have a different look and feel than one in the desert Southwest or along the coast.
Once you start thinking about landscaping with edible plants and begin researching edible plants that will grow in your climate you will be surprised by the diversity available. Plants for a Future is a non-profit organization with over 7000 useful plants in their searchable database. A great place to explore and discover new plants to fill those niche spots in the garden.
A simple plan for many backyards is simply to line fruiting shrubs along the boundaries, with an occasional fruit tree sited to give shade where needed. Then border the shrubs with vegetables, herbs and edible flowers, leaving a section of grass in the center for the children to play in.
Of course edible landscaping will take on many different looks depending on the climate and site of the garden. Using plants that are well adapted to the area lessens the amount of care that they need. An edible garden in a tropical area of course will have a different look and feel than one in the desert Southwest or along the coast.
Once you start thinking about landscaping with edible plants and begin researching edible plants that will grow in your climate you will be surprised by the diversity available. Plants for a Future is a non-profit organization with over 7000 useful plants in their searchable database. A great place to explore and discover new plants to fill those niche spots in the garden.
Edible Theme Gardens
You can also plan a theme garden. Ms. Creasy has written a whole series of Edible Garden books, each based on a theme. For instance, there is the The Edible Flower Garden
, The Edible Italian Garden
, The Edible French Garden
and many others. (There are at least nine books in this series, some of which may be out of print at this time but are well worth hunting for.)
, The Edible Italian Garden, The Edible French Garden and many others. (There are at least nine books in this series, some of which may be out of print at this time but are well worth hunting for.) 
Making a Plan
As with any type of landscaping it is a good idea to lay out some sort of plan on paper. This will become your road map to follow as you plant things out and develop your garden in real life. You can do a simple drawing on graph paper showing your property lines, existing structures like the house, driveway and outbuildings, along with existing trees and shrubs you plan to keep.
I would go over such a plan with a fine black marker, then lay tracing paper over that and trace the lines again, then add in proposed plantings, with their mature sizes over that. This will give you an idea of how much space that full size apple tree is really going to need and how much of the garden area it is going to shade. Another idea would be to lay clear acetate over the original drawing and use washable colored markers to doodle around with the possibilities. You could then trace off the plan you like best or make a photocopy of it before it gets smudged.
I would go over such a plan with a fine black marker, then lay tracing paper over that and trace the lines again, then add in proposed plantings, with their mature sizes over that. This will give you an idea of how much space that full size apple tree is really going to need and how much of the garden area it is going to shade. Another idea would be to lay clear acetate over the original drawing and use washable colored markers to doodle around with the possibilities. You could then trace off the plan you like best or make a photocopy of it before it gets smudged.
Keep a Journal
Keep your plans in a journal of some sort. A three ring binder with sheet protectors is ideal. You can keep your plans in the sheet protectors along with photographs of gardens and garden features you really like. Keep information sheets and photographs of those plants you are considering and take pictures of them when you plant them out and again when they grow and fruit. Keep some notes on what you like best and least about them.
When it comes to annual vegetables, herbs and edible flowers it's a good idea to keep track of the varieties you planted, when and where they were planted and how well they did. You could have a seasonal taste off of different varieties of edible flowers, homegrown tomatoes or what have you and keep notes and photographs together. This will help you in planning for the future. You might decide you aren't so fond of nasturtium flowers after all and decide to look for something else to take their place. Or how will you remember next year which variety of basil was really the best for pesto?
This gardening journal is completely customizable, you can change the photographs and text to suit yourself.
When it comes to annual vegetables, herbs and edible flowers it's a good idea to keep track of the varieties you planted, when and where they were planted and how well they did. You could have a seasonal taste off of different varieties of edible flowers, homegrown tomatoes or what have you and keep notes and photographs together. This will help you in planning for the future. You might decide you aren't so fond of nasturtium flowers after all and decide to look for something else to take their place. Or how will you remember next year which variety of basil was really the best for pesto?
This gardening journal is completely customizable, you can change the photographs and text to suit yourself. More About Rosalind Creasy
Award Winning Garden Author
Since 1982 Ms. Creasy has written 18 garden related books. Most of these have been about edible landscaping, but some are about Cooking from the Garden
and some about gardening with children.
Ms. Creasy has won several prestigious awards from The Garden Writers Association. She is in high demand as a speaker and lecturer all over the United States. Ms. Creasy is also a great photographer as well as an inspirational writer. Her landscaping designs have been implemented in public and private gardens through out the country.
and some about gardening with children.Ms. Creasy has won several prestigious awards from The Garden Writers Association. She is in high demand as a speaker and lecturer all over the United States. Ms. Creasy is also a great photographer as well as an inspirational writer. Her landscaping designs have been implemented in public and private gardens through out the country.
My Edible Garden Blog
These links are to recent posts on The Edible Garden Blog. There I feature what I'm planting and what I'm harvesting. Edible flowers show up frequently along with various green living projects around my little homestead.
Do You Have an Edible Landscape?
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BlueTrane
Jan 7, 2012 @ 8:02 pm | delete
- not yet.
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Einar_A
Dec 27, 2011 @ 11:14 pm | delete
- Yes, I have an edible landscape--in the mountains all around me! By getting to know the wild edible plants in your area, you can almost always have a ready supply. I do encourage a few of my favorite species to grow on my land by helping provide them favorable conditions and not pulling them out of the garden, when they do take root. Great lens!
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hysongdesigns
Dec 28, 2011 @ 7:57 pm | delete
- yes but much easier in the mountains than here in the desert...
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Tipi
Dec 13, 2011 @ 11:25 am | delete
- Very informative page on edible plants and flowers. I'm always looking to try something new, and healthy. ~ Blessed!
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KeepsakeIdeas
Nov 25, 2011 @ 11:03 am | delete
- No, I don't have an edible garden at the moment but I think growing at least some of our own food will become ever more important. Thanks for sharing your tips and advice.
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I have been an organic gardener most of my life. I love the concept of an edible landscape around my home and Rosalind Creasy's edible garden books ha... more »
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