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
Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus
The beautiful edible rose tree. Gorgeous, tasty, hardy, big… what more could you want?
Box Elder, Acer Negundo
The Box Elder tree is a sadly misunderstood and incredible tree. Useful on so many levels, this beautiful, fast-growing tree is well worth considering if you’re trying to grow a food forest.
French Sorrel, Rumex Scutatus
Picture lime-tinted chard or lettuce. It’s Romain meets rhubarb. In other words, you’ve got to try French Sorrel…
Lambsquarters, Chenopodium Album
Probably the wild edible I eat most, Lambsquarters is a delicious green that makes a great spinach substitute. Close relatives include red goosefoot, orach, quinoa, and dozens of other similar-tasting, similarly edible plants.
Goji Berry, Lycium barbarum
AKA Lycium chinense I love goji berries. They’re not the candy-sweet berries you get with raspberries or strawberries. Rather, they’re more like the flavor of a tomato or bell-pepper, but they are perennial and incredibly hardy. I would love to see these little red ‘maters showing up in the produce department, sold by the pound. But for now, I’ll grow […]
Oregon Grape, Mahonia aquifolium
The Oregon grape (alongside the creeping Oregon grape) is a delightful addition to the garden, but it’s a must-have in the food forest. Edible berries grow in the shade of cover story trees.