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Edible Shrubs as Barriers
Edible Shrubs as Barriers
Sometimes you need your hedges to be formidable enough to keep wildlife and humans out. There are some edible shrubs that can be grown as barriers to create a natural fence. These have thorns to thwart even the most determined trespasser. Some good edible shrubs to grow as a barrier include brambles, gooseberry, natal plum, and Rugosa rose.
GA SIDE YARD
Edible Shrubs as Foundation Plantings
Edible Shrubs as Foundation Plantings
Foundation plantings are those shrubs planted immediately around your home. The most important aspect to these shrubs is selecting ones that grow in the space allotted without requiring drastic pruning. Also, areas next to the home, especially those with a southern exposure, can be excessively hot. Select plants that can take these conditions.
Some good foundation plantings to try include blueberry, currant, gooseberry, natal plum, rosemary, and bush plums.
Edible Shrubs as Hedges
Edible Shrubs as Hedges
Hedges are great for defining gardens and creating "rooms". Taller hedges can create the sense of privacy, while low growing hedges help border a garden space. Hedges can be trimmed into a formal shape, like a boxwood hedge, or left to grow to their natural size, like a lilac hedge. Hedge plants can be grown individually to block unsightly objects in the yard, such as utility boxes.
Some good shrubs to grow as hedges include blueberry, bush plum, currant, gooseberry, hazelbert, natal plum, American cranberry bush, and pineapple guava.
Brambles, such as these raspberries, can be grown in tight places such as along a fence or next to a house.
In warm climates, rosemary can grow wild and make an excellent informal hedge.
Edible Shrub Descriptions
Edible Shrub Descriptions
All shrubs below are deciduous and grow best in full sun and on well-drained soil unless otherwise stated.
American Cranberry bush (Viburnum trilobum) - This 6- to 10-foot- tall shrub is hardy in zones 3 to 8. It produces white flowers in spring and bright red fruits in late summer. The fruits are good in jams and they are an excellent wildlife food. This sprawling shrub is best used as an informal hedge.
Blueberry (Vaccinium) - Select varieties that are highbush (5 to 6 feet tall) or half-high (1 to 4 feet tall) depending on your location. Southern and rabbiteye blueberries are highbush types adapted to the South. Blueberries need a well-drained, acidic soil with the pH below 5. Add sulfur to lower the pH. They can be planted near other acid-loving shrubs, such as holly. They are hardy in zones 3 to 9.
Brambles (Rubus) - Hardy in zones 3 to 9, blackberries and raspberries make excellent barrier shrubs. They can also be trained to grow along a fence in a narrow bed since their growth habit is so vertical. Select spreading brambles, such as red raspberries and blackberries, as an informal barrier hedge. Their suckers will quickly fill in the blank areas. For a more contained barrier hedge, plant black raspberries that send up suckers from only around the crown of the plant and are less invasive. For fruit production in summer and fall, grow everbearing
red raspberries such as 'Heritage'.
Bush Plums (Prunus) - Sometimes called cherry-plums(45' tall +45'wide), Nanking cherries
Currants and Gooseberries (Ribes) - White, red, and black currants make excellent foundation plants, and can be grouped to block an unsightly object, or grown into informal hedges. Hardy in zones 3 to 8, most grow to 5 feet tall and have attractive and delicious fruits. Red and white currants are best used as juices and for fresh eating, while black currants are best used in jams and preserves. Black currants are the alternate host to a deadly disease of white pines (blister rust). So if you have white pines growing near your property, grow disease-resistant black currant varieties such as 'Consort'. Gooseberries
Natal Plum (Carissa grandiflora) -
This tropical evergreen shrub is only hardy in zones 9 to 11. It grows to 6 to 10 feet tall with fragrant, white flowers and edible red fruits. The plum-shaped fruits taste like cranberries and can be used to make jam. This is another good seaside plant. It makes an excellent foundation plant or hedge--sometimes called "Burglar Bush" because of brutal thorns---can be used as an effective barrier to animals & people.
Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana) - This large, evergreen,
grow to 3 to 4 feet tall and have thorny branches. They produce tasty 1-inch-long fruits for fresh eating, pies and jams. Thin out center like a bowl to allow airflow to prevent mildew.
Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum or Lycium Chinense)- It is also
tropical, shrub grows to 15 feet tall and wide in zones 8 to 10. It produces edible, pear-shaped fruits with a pineapple- and strawberry-like flavor. These are best used as informal hedges.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) - This evergreen shrub
(9' tall), or sand cherries
grows 3-5ft tall, & is hardy in zones 9 to 11 and makes an excellent low hedge or border plant. The fragrant leaves are essential in many culinary dishes. (pH 7–7.8)
Rugosa Rose (Rosa rugosa) -
(15" tall), these small-fruited shrubs grow about 6 to 10 feet tall, have showy white flowers and 1/2-inch-diameter tart fruits and are hardy in zones 3 to 9 depending on the species. The fruits are best used in jams and jellies. Sand cherries make good coastal plants because of their adaptation to salt spray and sandy soil.
Chilean Guava (Ugni molinae)--Strawberry Myrtle---
known as Chinese wolfberry,[3] Chinese boxthorn,[3] Himalayan goji,[3] Tibetan goji,[3] mede berry,[citation needed] barbary matrimony vine,[3] Duke of Argyll's tea tree,[3] Duke of Argyll's tea plant,[3] Murali(in India),[4] red medlar,[citation needed] or matrimony vine.[3] Grows 1-3m tall. Video 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Need pH=6.8-8.1. can grow in 5gal container. Can grow as a bush or on a fence like grapes. Spread>4ft. Grows to 10-13ft tall but can trim down. Pick a shoot to be main shoot & prune off any lateral shoots, to 15" . Keep 15" clearance from ground. When it gets to 2' tall, pinch off top to encourage lateral growth, then trim to whatever height you want to keep it. Prune unproductive branches & thin out after berry season ( all summer ).
Hazelbert (Corylus) - A cross
This species rose is hardy in zones 3 to 9, and can grow to 8 feet tall. It produces edible, fragrant, white, pink, or red flowers in spring and red or orange rose hips in late summer. The hips are high in vitamin C and best eaten raw, in teas or in jams. The thorny branches make it an excellent barrier plant, especially since new shoots arise from root suckers. This is another good seaside plant.
(1-6ft tall) Also known as UgniBerry, TazziBerry, New Zealand cranberry--supposed to be extra yummy.
between a filbert and a hazelnut, this 8- to 12-foot-tall shrub is hardy, has beautiful fall foliage, and produces edible nuts. It makes an excellent edible hedge.
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