Edible landscaping with berries

Adding berries to my edible landscaping project was always a major goal. Perennial berry bushes help to provide a permanent framework to my design as well as color and texture to the landscape. Not to mention they are delicious! Bearberry was one of the first perennials to be planted. Since then we've added strawberries, blueberries and elderberries!





In the herb sections of the garden (bottom triangles) I have planted two types of strawberries. To the right I transplanted ever bearing strawberry plants from my back beds.

To the left, I planted Fragoo strawberry plants. Fragoo strawberries ( Fragaria x ananassa) come in three choices of flower color: deep rose, pink or white. I have deep rose. This variety is also ever bearing and produces large blooms and berries. The plan is that with in a couple of years strawberry runners will cover in the middle sections of these triangles!



At the edge of the garden, on either side, next to the rhododendrons, we planted Northland Blueberries. A semi dwarf, it is a cross between high and low bush varieties. They are compact, easy to grow and cold hardy (got to love New England winters) as well as being prolific berry producers.

 

Lastly, we added two elderberry bushes on the left side of the porch where an over-sized dogwood used to be. This whole project could be blamed on these shrubs. I wanted elderberries to make champagne,wine and jam but I had no space for them (you need two for pollination). Where could I plant them? There was no room in the back, so it had to be the front. If a tree was coming down, what else could we change?



I'm excited about the variety of elderberry we planted. Black Lace Elderberry (Sambucus nigra 'Eva') is not your typical elderberry! It has finger-like black purple foliage which is almost like a Japanese Maple in appearance. The flowers are pink which looks amazing with the purple leaves. The berries are black and appear in the fall. For such a delicate looking shrub it is tough, being hardy up to zone 4 and can adapt to most conditions. The shrub can reach up to eight feet high but with pruning will stay smaller.

Next on the list are Lingon Berries which should arrive this week.

Look - the tarp covered pile of compost is gone!

Later on on the week I'll be posting a planting map of the garden with what I have planted so far and what I plan to plant over the next few weeks!I have planted a lot of seeds, some of which are just starting to push through the soil and I have flats of flowers and vegetables almost ready for planting.

If you are interested in the plants I am including in this project, I have created a Pinterest board called My Edible Landscape Project, where you can find an on-going list and links.

To see the progress of this project, click on the front garden redo link in the right hand column.

See you in the garden,

Sue