For those unfamiliar with Asian pears, picture a fruit with the shape of an apple, the color and texture of a pear, but the flavor of an extra-juicy spiced pear. Plus they sell for top dollar at the grocery store and farmer’s market.
Walking Onion, Allium cepa proliferum
A true perennial among onions, and let’s face it, they just look cool!
Blue Elderberry, Sambucus caerulea
Also known as Mexican elderberry or tapiro, this is possibly the tastiest of the elderberries.
White Dutch Clover, Trifolium repens
The occasional 4-leaf clover isn’t the part of this foundational food-forest gift that will bring you the greatest luck. Not only can this thing feed you, but it will feed your other plants, as well.
Lamarckii Serviceberry, Amelanchier lamarckii
AKA juneberry, AKA shadbush, AKA saskatoon, AKA Snowy Mespilus, AKA apple serviceberry, AKA quite-possibly-the-best-little-berry-you’ll-ever-find-growing-on-a-tree.
Bigtooth Maple, Acer grandidentatum
The sugar maple of the rockies! Half the size, half the syrup, but much less than half the maintenance. And here’s two ways to tap them, too.
Buffaloberry, Shepherdia argentea
Also known as the silver buffalo berry, which, while it may make it sound like something for a boy scout, can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Hosta Longipes
Step aside, asparagus! Hostas have come to town! Or better yet, come alongside. There’s room for us all!
Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis
Get it started, and it will do the rest. A perfect candidate for food forest veggies.
Broadleaf Cattail, Typha latifolia
No, it’s not really a corndog sticking out of the water, but it’s probably even more edible and nutritious. Cattail is a fabulous wild edible worth adding to the wettest part of your food forest.
Gambel Oak, Quercus gambelii
Ah, nuts! These things are great if you can beat the deer to them.
Aronia Berry, Aronia melanocarpa
Pucker up! The aronia chokeberry is tastier than it sounds!
Honeyberry, Lonicera caerulea
Imagine a blueberry rolled to the shape of an elongated egg, but that tastes like a kiwi, and LOVES cold climates. Did I mention one mature bush can produce several pounds of fruit every year? Oh yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.
Siberian Dwarf Pine (AKA Japanese Stone Pine), Pinus pumila
A power-punch shorty, a champion in the cold, and a rockstar in the food forest.
Nootka Rose, Rosa nutkana
Great fruit, beautiful shrub.
Black Cherry, Prunus serotina
Photo by Rasbak of Wikimedia commons, CC3