Edible Landscaping - Plant Recommendations
USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 10
Choose from among the following plants for edible landscapes if you live in an area with mild winters, and no severe frost. The varieties here are particularly well-suited to the arid Southwest. For recommendations for more humid areas, see my section on USDA Hardiness zones 10 and 11, which are more tropical in nature.
Annual Vegetables and Edible Flowers –
cool season/ can withstand light frosts – all greens: rainbow chard, mustards; cabbages, lettuce, kales etc.; flower bud vegetables: broccoli and cauliflower; root vegetables: carrots, beets, radishes, etc; plus peas, nasturtiums, calendulas, pansies, and winter wheat.
Warm season/ no frost tolerance – beans, cucumbers, eggplants, melons, peanuts, peppers, sweet potatoes, squash, slicing and cherry tomatoes.
Perennials
Herbaceous perennials - artichokes, asparagus, cardoon, prickly pear cactus, garden strawberries.
Woody trees, shrubs and vines – almonds, low-chill apples, apricots, bamboo, blueberries, blackberries, sweet cherries, chestnut, most citrus, figs, grapes, Japanese persimmons, Japanese plums, kiwis, loquat, low-chill pears, olive, pecan, plums, peaches and nectarines, pineapple guava, pomegranates, raspberries, tea, walnuts.
Herbs
Cool season annuals/ can withstand light frosts – cilantro, parsley
Warm season/no frost tolerance – basils, anise hyssop
Perennials - chives, marjoram, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, sorrel, and French and lemon thyme.
Particularly good seed and plant sources for Zones9-10
Bay Laurel
2500 El Camino Real
Atascadero, CA 93422
www.baylaurelnursery.com
Fruit trees for the Southwest and California
Cross Country Nurseries
199 Kingwood-Locktown Road
Rosemont, NJ 08556-0170
www.chileplants.com
Great selection of chile and sweet pepper, eggplant, and tomato plants in spring
Edible Landscaping Nursery
361 Spirit Ridge Lane
Afton, VA 22920
Carries many fruit trees, berries, and vines
Nichols Garden Nursery
1190 North Pacific Highway NE
Albany, OR 97321-4580
Vegetables and herbs; carries a wide selection of herb plants
One Green World
28696 S Cramer Road
Molalla, OR 97038
Unusual fruits, berries, nuts - some from Eastern Europe and Russia
Raintree Nursery
391 Butts Road
Morton, WA 98356
Fruits, nuts, berries, unusual edibles
Renee’s Garden Seeds
6116 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
www.reneesgarden.com
Flower, herb, vegetable seeds; on line and in retail stores; information packed website
Trees of Antiquity
20 Wellsona Road
Paso Robles, CA 93446
www.treesofantiquity.com
Heirloom fruits, berries
by Rosalind Creasy
2 comments
Kathie Sherman - I am so excited to hear about you and your philosophy. My Myers-Briggs personality description says that I am a no-nonsense gal. And, that I am. After investing money I was given as a gift in a lot of roses, which only survived the first year they were planted, I decided to grow vegetables. Our $ situation was not as it had been, so I decided to start growing veggies instead. I am somewhat of purist and felt that the veggies should be in a different bed from the flowers. However, I was hoping to find a way to grown them all together.
Bingo, I was lucky enough to grab a copy of an article about you and I knew that it was a divinely planned meeting. I am ready to go and can hardly wait to learn from you Ros. I am praying that your new book will bless many. “The times they are a changing.”
BLESSINGS ON YOUR BLOSSOMS,
KATHIE
kathie Sherman - Since your new book is sold out most everywhere, would you be willing to share some basics about how to develop and Edible Landscape?
I had your article from my local newspaper set aside to study and …..it is missing. I live in San Antonio, TX and am working as fast as I can to get my Spring garden planted. Some basic ideas would be a great help.
Blessings on your Blossoms,
Kathie