Spice up your garden and your plate — these plants don’t just look great, they produce delicious fruit, too! They’ll accent your border or create a beautiful (and tasty) hedge. Click ahead to find out more about three of our favorite hardworking edibles.
Double-duty edibles
By: Garden Gate staff
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Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium laevifolium)
Don’t have time to harvest the blue-black sweetly flavored fruit of lowbush blueberry? You’ll still be able to enjoy watching birds flock to the fruit!
Type Shrub Blooms White flowers in spring, berries in late summer Light Full sun to part shade Soil Acid, well-drained Size 18 to 24 in. tall and wide Hardiness Cold-hardy zones 2 to 7, heat-tolerant zones 7 to 1
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Red currant (Ribes rubrum)
Use red currant’s tart bright red fruit to make jam or toss a handful of freshly picked berries into your salad.
Type Shrub Blooms Green-yellow flowers in spring, bright red berries in midsummer Light Full sun to part shade Soil Humusy, well-drained Size 3 to 5 ft. tall and wide Hardiness Cold-hardy zones 3 to 7, heat-tolerant zones 7 to 1
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Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia)
Plant two or more Asian pear trees for pollination. Its large round fruit is crisp, crunchy and sweet!
Type Tree Blooms White flowers in spring, fruit in early fall Light Full sun Soil Sandy, well-drained Size 10 to 12 ft. tall and wide Hardiness Cold-hardy zones 4 to 9, heat-tolerant AHS zones 9 to 1
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