Good looking gardens to tickle your tastebuds

By Gabrielle Stannus

Imagine a future in which resources are shared from building to building, and food is grown without a dependency on fossil fuel-based transportation. The International Living Future Institute asked governments, designers and planners to do just that through its Living Communities Challenge, whilst requiring them to incorporate beauty as a very important element in their response. The institute says that if “we accept billboards, parking lots, freeways and strip malls as being aesthetically acceptable, in the same breath we accept clear-cuts, factory farms and strip mines”¹. This made me think: How can we, as landscape and garden designers, help increase the amount of food grown in urban settlements whilst also beautifying these areas? One answer is to select plants that are both edible and ornamental in your designs.

There are so many opportunities within our public landscapes and private gardens where we can incorporate plants, both edible and ornamental, to beautify and feed our cities. We need to rethink how we use public and private land more creatively. As designers, when we respond to client requests to help them grow their own food, many of us might first think of plots in community gardens for public landscapes, or garden beds in private residences. However, the permaculture principle, “use edges and value the marginal” reminds us that important things happen at the intersections between different spaces. We can redesign and dig up front lawns, nature strips, verges, and parks to make them productive and beautiful spaces. Plant selection is a very important part of this process. I want to provide some inspiration on which varieties you might use as feature trees, hedges, espalier, and climbers in your designs.

FEATURE TREES

Well-known landscape designer Paul Bangay says trees make gardens visually stimulating by providing these places with a three-dimensional sense of space, without which gardens can become flat and boring. They also provide depth when placed at the beginning of a vista and a focal point when placed at the end, helping to, in Paul’s words, “punctuate the garden’s design by providing vertical points of interest”². Many deciduous and evergreen trees can fulfil this function whilst also providing food.

Cooler climate

Many deciduous trees provide ornamental impact as well as something to eat. For the sake of brevity, I will focus on crab apple, almond and plum varieties, although you could also consider other apples, cherries, and persimmon. Being deciduous, these plants let the winter light in whilst shading the garden during summer, an important consideration when integrating building and landscape design, i.e. allowing the sun in to heat a home during winter.

The ornamental appeal of crab apples lies in their small, brightly coloured fruit and their flowers. When cooked and sweetened, crab apples make wonderful jellies. Given their prolific flowering over a long period of time, crab apples are often planted in orchards to help pollinate other apple varieties. The Japanese Crab Apple (Malus floribunda) is a spreading, densely branched tree, that produces warm pink flowers in spring that fade to white as they open. Malus x atrosanguinea ‘Gorgeous’ is a good choice for small landscapes where space is restricted. Malus ‘Gorgeous’ is a partially self-fertile crab apple which crosses with other apple varieties and pollinates other apples. Some Ballerina® crab apples can even be fruited in containers, e.g. Malus domestica ‘Maypole’³, a small tree with a narrowly upright habit and pink flowers. Other edible varieties include ‘Golden Hornet’ and ‘John Downie’.

With its beautiful spring flowers, the Japanese Blood Plum (Prunus salicina) makes a striking accent in any public landscape or home garden. Varieties include ‘Mariposa’ and ‘Satsuma’, both of which possess pink to white flowers, although the latter is partially self-fertile and has a compact form suitable for smaller spaces. Low chill varieties include ‘Gulf Gold’ (mature size around 1m with yellow fruit) and ‘Gulf Ruby’ (2-5m with red fruit), both of which possess white blossoms. Cross pollination is required for these plums.

The Sweet Almond (Prunus dulcis) is a very attractive tree covered in single white flowers just as the leaves emerge in spring. This almond produces edible ‘nuts’ (drupe seeds) rich in protein, calcium, iron, vitamins B2 and B3 and phosphorus³. All almonds, except self-fertile cultivars, require cross-pollination, so grow more than one variety to ensure fruit sets. Almond All-in-One^TM  is a compact, self-fertile variety that sets a small crop of nuts. New self-fertile varieties suitable for areas lacking bees have entered the market in recent years, ‘Capella’, ‘Carina’, ‘Mira’ and ‘Vela’, although these have been developed primarily for commercial crops⁴. Older cultivars such as ‘Johnston’s Prolific’ and ‘Chellaston’ are still suitable for smaller-scale production, i.e. in the home garden.

Mediterranean climate

If you want to maintain foliage in the landscape or garden throughout the year, consider evergreen trees instead. Citrus and olive varieties do well in Mediterranean climates.

The lush green foliage, aromatic flowers, and fruit of the Citrus genus make those plants excellent screens, and they can be grown in containers too. The reward is edible fruit high in Vitamin C that can be consumed raw or juiced. The famous oranges lining the streets of Seville in Spain are not eaten by the locals, given their astringent taste⁵. These trees are Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium), whose fruit only becomes palatable after cooking and is therefore mostly consumed as marmalade. The fruit of the ‘Sweet’ Orange (Citrus x sinensis) is much more palatable and could make a feature tree, and in the right conditions, i.e. full sun and not too humid, even be planted as a hedge. The native Finger Lime (Citrus australasica) is a slender tree with small, glossy leaves and cylindrical fruits whose tangy flavour makes them sought after by chefs. This small tree/shrub has sharp spines along its branches, which may make it protective in a hedge yet less playground-friendly. Depending on your location, you could consider selecting another citrus such as Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi), Kaffir Lime (Citrus hystrix), Lime (Citrus x aurantiifolia), Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) or Lemon (Citrus x limon) varieties such as ‘Lisbon’, ‘Eureka’ and ‘Meyer’, to similar effect. I am particularly keen on the Dwarf Meyer Lemon for use in private gardens, given its compact form.

Requiring a little more commitment before its fruit can be consumed, the dense foliage of the evergreen, semi-fertile Olive (Olea europaea) makes it a good screening plant. Unripe green fruit and ripe black fruit can be harvested for pickling, while the latter can also be pressed for oil. Commonly available varieties include ‘Arbequino’, ‘Frantoio’, ‘Kalamata’, ‘Manzanillo’ and ‘Picual’. Some are more palatable than others when consumed directly rather than in oil production, so check with your nursery before selecting. Olives grow, but rarely fruit well, outside Mediterranean climatic regions³. Consider the selection of olives carefully in environmentally sensitive areas, as they can become weedy through seed dispersal.

Sub-tropical climate

Those of you lucky enough to design and plant in warmer climates have a very extensive range of plants that you can select from for their edible and ornamental appeal.

If you are looking for ornamental trees that bear fresh fruit and are ready for immediate consumption, then mango, jackfruit, starfruit, lychee, native plums, or pomegranate might just be the go. Mango (Mangifera indica) bears fragrant flowers and glossy, dense foliage, making it a useful shade tree. When I eat its large golden fruit, I always think of condensed milk, a favourite childhood food of mine. The large, textured leaves and giant cauliflorous fruits of the Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) mean it can make a bold statement in the landscape. Both the fruit and seed are edible, the latter requiring roasting before consumption. The similarly cauliflorous Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola) has clusters of pink flowers that turn into tart to sweet fruit that can be eaten fresh or juiced. This smaller tree may be suitable in urban spaces. I must admit that the fruit of the Lychee (Litchi chinensis) tree is not my favourite! However, its dense, dark green foliage and red fruit clusters give it great ornamental appeal. Consider its selection carefully as the lychee fruit, while edible, contains toxic seeds that should not be consumed by humans, and the fruit itself is surrounded by a prickly shell. It might not be a plant for the playground! The dark glossy, green foliage of the native Illawarra Plum (Podocarpus elatus) makes it suitable for use as a feature tree. It responds well to pruning, making a very effective hedge, and is suitable for containers, including indoors. The purple fruit is apparently rich in Vitamin C and can be eaten raw or cooked in sauces and jams. The Pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit provides another good source of Vitamin C, although it is not the easiest ‘eat’ given the bitter pith and many seeds. Select a variety with a lower seed-to-fruit ratio, and you will be rewarded with a more palatable fruit. The highly ornamental bright orange-red flowers help make this compact tree a highly ornamental addition to urban or formal gardens. Note that the dwarf variety, P. granatum ‘Nana’, is however purely ornamental³.

Some plants may need a little more processing before they can be consumed, i.e. for their ‘nuts’, but the rewards can be great. Who does not love the rich, buttery taste of Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) nuts?! With its attractive, glossy foliage and sprays of creamy, grevillea-like flowers, this semi-evergreen tree is ideal for both gardens and public spaces. The nuts require heating in a cool oven for a few hours to make the shells brittle and easier to crack³. The Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) may be useful as a feature tree, with its unique kidney-shaped fruit and glossy leaves. Whilst the ‘nut’ (drupe seed) is edible, it requires labour-intensive roasting and shelling³. Care must also be taken during shelling as the liquid under the shell is caustic⁶. Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) is a large, handsome tree with a graceful canopy providing useful shade. Its brown pods contain very acidic pulp and is used for beverages and in chutneys, curries and medicine³.

HEDGES

Hedges in public landscapes, such as parks, provide separation between play areas and pathways, add beauty, and act as windbreaks. In private gardens, hedges screen neighbours, create outdoor ‘rooms’ and provide a soft backdrop for ornamental plants. There is a range of hedging plants that are both edible and ornamental which will help add beauty to your design.

The dense foliage of the evergreen, self-fertile Feijoa (Acca sellowiana) makes it a very useful hedge all year round. Its soft pink flowers with a white underside and large, red stamens add ornamental appeal. Feijoas are rich in vitamin A and C, pectin, iron, potassium and calcium³. Top hedging varieties available in Australia include ‘Apollo’, ‘Mammoth’, ‘Triumph’, and ‘Unique’. Plant feijoas as far apart as you want the hedge to grow wide. Plant one metre apart for a dense hedge and alternate varieties.

The deciduous Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) also can be hedged, and I would suggest using it in the productive garden to protect summer crops from the extreme heat of the afternoon sun. During winter, having lost their leaves, the hazelnut hedge will let precious light through to reach winter crops. Decorative male catkins appear in late winter. Plant hazelnuts anywhere that is well-drained and in full sun. They will grow to around 3 to 4m tall as a free-standing tree or hedge. Trees should be planted no less than 3m apart, unless a hedgerow is intended, then plant 2-3m apart. Individual pollination of hazelnuts is complex. Given they require cross-pollination, some nurseries recommend planting three pollinisers (early, mid and late pollen shed) for each main variety. Varieties available in Tasmania include ‘American White’, ‘Barcelona’, ‘Hall’s Giant’, ‘Lewis’, ‘TB Cosford’ and ‘Tonda di Giffano’. If in another state, check with your local nursery for available varieties. The Fruiting Fig (Ficus carica) is another small deciduous tree that can be hedged successfully.

Consider the Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis) for a more formal hedge or pleaching. The compact form of the ‘Miles Choice’ cultivar makes it suitable for this purpose. This laurel can grow to around 6 x 3m, although I would recommend clipping to 1-4m high. The highly aromatic deep green leaves can be harvested throughout the year, and make a delicious addition to sauces, especially my favourite, pasta. The fruits are inconspicuous.

ESPALIER

Fruit trees can also be espaliered to make the most of small spaces, or to create edible and attractive semi-porous boundaries. Deciduous fruit trees such as Apple (Malus domestica), Pear (Pyrus spp.) and Quince (Cydonia oblonga) are ideal for espaliering. The self-fertile Quince ‘Champion’ fruit has a tangy-sweet flavour that can be used in quince paste, jams and jellies. I am a fan of double-grafted apple varieties, e.g. ‘Gala’ & ‘Granny Smith’, ‘Gala’ & ‘Red Delicious’, ‘Golden Delicious’ & ‘Cox’s Orange Pippin’, ‘Granny Smith’ & ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Granny Smith’ & ‘Jonathon’, ‘Pink Lady’ & ‘Granny Smith’, and ‘Red Delicious’ & ‘Golden Delicious’. Alternatively, you can plant two different apple varieties in the same hole, or very close together. Just remember to select two compatible varieties. Other fruit trees that can be espaliered with careful pruning include Apricot (Prunus armeniaca), Cherry (P. avium and P. cerasus), Nectarine (P. persica var. nucipersica), Peach (P.  persica) and Plum (Prunus spp.), If you are in a warmer climate, you could espalier Citrus varieties, including Lemon (Citrus x limon).

CLIMBERS

Climbing plants can cover up unsightly fences, create shade on pergolas, or complete an ornamental walkway. Some, such as grapes and kiwifruit, can also be espaliered.

Climbing by tendrils, the deciduous Grape is a classic edible and ornamental plant already used in gardens to good effect, particularly in covering north-facing pergolas to provide shade during the summer months. Before selecting a variety, ask your client whether they prefer eating red or white grapes; there is no point in growing something they do not like! Note that there are many seedless varieties available now. For edibility, look for table grape (rather than wine) varieties such as ‘Perlette’ (Vitis vinifera) or ‘Vanessa’ (Vitis lambrusca hybrid). These cultivars are self-fertile and grow to about 2x3m, and a trellis is essential. Remember that grape leaves are also edible; dolmades are one of my all-time favourite dishes. I must admit that I have only prepared this stuffed vine leaves dish from scratch with bought leaves.

Like the grape, Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) is deciduous and can be used to similar effect in landscape and garden design. This woody, twining vine bears fruit rich in Vitamin C, which can be eaten raw or turned into juice, jelly or jam. Kiwifruits are dioecious; you will need at least one male plant for around seven female plants. The most commonly available variety is ‘Hayward’. Plant kiwifruit from June to August during the period of winter dormancy. Kiwifruit grow best in a sheltered corner or against a north-facing wall, away from any danger of frost pockets and hot afternoon sun.

Who can deny the appeal of the passionfruit with its stunning flowers? Although semi-deciduous in cooler climates, these tendril climbers are evergreen in warmer areas and can be used for screening and shading garden areas. Purple Passionfruit (Passiflora edulis) cultivars including ‘Australian Purple’ and ‘Nelly Kelly’ are established performers. Banana Passionfruit (Passiflora tarminiana) can also be grown for its yellow fruit⁷[GS14] , and it is used ornamentally and as a rootstock for other passionfruit cultivars, e.g. ‘Nelly Kelly’⁶. Purple Passionfruit is self-fertile, whilst yellow forms require cross-pollination, and need to be controlled given their propensity to sucker⁸.

There are native climbers with edible fruit, although these plants may lack the form and yield of cultivated exotic varieties. I was delighted when I found the Purple Appleberry (Billardieria longiflora) growing on the bush block where we live, although it was growing just a little too high for me to reach its edible fruit without help. This woody, twining climber can reach 3-4m high. Its bird-attracting tubular, creamy-green flowers appear in spring, followed by bright purple berries. The Purple Appleberry prefers a semi-shaded, well-drained position. It is a great plant in shrubbery and on structures. Its edible fruit can be eaten raw, or cooked in jams and preserves. Native Raspberry (Rubus parvifolius) is a rambling, prickly shrub 1-1.5m high. It has the most beautiful small pink flowers appearing in spring, followed by edible red fruits. However, its small, hooked thorns can make collecting its fruit a little difficult. This raspberry needs moist, well-drained soil and ample sunlight. The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked, and its leaves can be used in tea.

HAS THIS TICKLED YOUR TASTEBUDS?

Hopefully, this summary of edible and ornamental plants has whet your appetite. I have only just scratched the surface – I did not even get to the understorey! Edible and ornamental shrubs, subshrubs, groundcovers, and perennial and annual herbs will just have to wait for another article. In the meantime, if you are inclined to do so, start conversing with your clients and plant suppliers about this subject as a design option.

When discussing the potential to incorporate edible and ornamental plants into your client’s landscapes and/or gardens, there are some very important considerations that you should bring to their attention. The multi-functional plants I have described will potentially help your clients reduce their food miles and save money whilst attracting pollinators, birds and bees to their gardens. However, I recommend that you only specify those plants your clients want to eat unless they plan to share the produce with others, and if selecting plants for a public landscape, consider the cultural preferences of the local population. Also, trees take some time to bear fruit, so ensure your clients clearly understand when they are likely to expect a harvest. The selection of advanced trees may reduce this wait, however, this may increase the cost of your design. If specifying fruit trees to be planted in pots, select dwarf rootstock and be mindful that the plant will not yield as much as when planted directly in the ground.

Speak with your nursery and their professional horticulturists to find varieties of the plants listed here and other varieties that suit your local climate, soils and other environmental tolerances. So many new plant varieties are available, for example, the new ‘Jala’ avocado (Avocado ‘JA1A’ PBR Jala™), the fruit of which is reportedly three times larger than other avocadoes. More disease-resistant and/or self-fertile fruit tree varieties are also coming onto the market, providing more design options. Your nursery will also let you know whether the plant you want requires one or more pollination partners, and/or whether it is monecious or dioecious, before you specify final numbers in your plant selection.

I cannot wait to see what the future holds, and what new edible and ornamental cultivars will become available that are suited to the smaller spaces most of us live in. It would be great to see more native food plants cultivated for this purpose, and for some of the fruit trees described here bred to make it easier to harvest from them, i.e. reduce their height.

Plant breeders and production nurseries: Are you up for a challenge? Help us beautify and feed our growing cities!

FURTHER READING

For tips on how to grow fruit in small spaces, read my February 2024 article: “Fruitful design for unusual garden spaces”.

Gabrielle Stannus

Inwardout Studio

M: 0400 431 277

E: gabrielle@inwardoutstudio.com

References

1. International Living Future Institute. (2017). Living Community Challenge 1.2. Retrieved January 3, 2025, from https://living-future.org/lcc/
2. Bangay, P. (2021). Paul Bangay’s Guide to Plants. Penguin. p.64
3. Flowerdew, B. (2018). Bob Flowerdew’s Complete Book of Fruit in Australia. Simon & Schuster.
4. University of Adelaide. (2020, February 19). Self-fertile almond varieties create buzz ahead of harvest. Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology. https://set.adelaide.edu.au/news/list/2020/02/19/self-fertile-almond-varieties-create-buzz-ahead-of-harvest
5. Sevilla City Office. (n.d.). Sevilla is blooming, but why are there so many orange trees in the city? Retrieved January 7, 2025, from https://visitasevilla.es/en/sevilla-is-blooming-but-why-are-there-so-many-orange-trees-in-the-city/#:~:text=Orange%20trees%20have%20been%20an,domination%20of%20the%20Iberian%20Peninsula.
6. Buckingham, A. (2017). Grow Fruit. DK.
7. The University of Melbourne. (2015a). Passiflora tarminiana. Burnley Plant Guide.
8. The University of Melbourne. (2015b). Passiflora edulis. Burnley Plant Guide.