Are hedge apples edible full#
Are hedge apples edible free#

Sometimes you need your hedges to be formidable enough to keep wildlife and humans out. In warm climates, rosemary can grow wild and make an excellent informal hedge. Some good shrubs to grow as hedges include blueberry, bush plum, currant, gooseberry, hazelbert, natal plum, American cranberry bush, and pineapple guava. Hedge plants can be grown individually to block unsightly objects in the yard, such as utility boxes. Hedges can be trimmed into a formal shape, like a boxwood hedge, or left to grow to their natural size, like a lilac hedge.

Taller hedges can create the sense of privacy, while low growing hedges help border a garden space. Hedges are great for defining gardens and creating 'rooms'. Some good foundation plantings to try include blueberry, currant, gooseberry, natal plum, rosemary, and bush plums.īrambles, such as these raspberries, can be grown in tight places such as along a fence or next to a house. Select plants that can take these conditions. Also, areas next to the home, especially those with a southern exposure, can be excessively hot. The most important aspect to these shrubs is selecting ones that grow in the space allotted without requiring drastic pruning. Here are some edible shrubs to grow based on their function in the landscape.įoundation plantings are those shrubs planted immediately around your home. Some gardeners like to mix in evergreens, such as arborvitae, with deciduous fruit plantings to add greenery for winter.

Are hedge apples edible free#

As long as the growing requirements are met, feel free to experiment. While it's great to plant all edibles in your yard, there's no problem with mixing in a blueberry here or a currant there with other ornamental plantings. Selecting edible shrubs to plant instead of the usual ornamental shrubs gives you the opportunity to produce some tasty food for your family, as well as have an attractive yard. Once you decide the function of the shrub and the likely location to plant it, then the fun begins. This shrub makes a great barrier plant and can tolerate growing near salt water. Rose hips are produced in abundance on rosa rugosa plants. As with any ornamental planting, determine if flowering and foliage color and texture will work in that location. Look at the shrub's ultimate height, width, hardiness zone and sun requirements before deciding to plant. A common sight is an overgrown yew or juniper almost blocking a window because it was the wrong shrub for that location. Some shrubs make great foundation plantings, while others will sprawl and spread and are better as informal hedges.

Are hedge apples edible full#

Do you need shrubs as foundation plantings around the house, a screen to block a utility box, or a barrier to the neighbor's yard? Does the site get full sun, is it exposed to cold winter winds, or does it have poor soil? Selecting the right shrub for the usage is key.

Much of your decision will be determined by usage and site exposure. The first order of business is to decide which shrubs to grow. Although beautiful, I can't help but think they're missing out on a great opportunity to grow similarly attractive shrubs that are edible instead. Look around any yard in the United States and you're bound to see a limited palette of ornamental shrubs used as foundation plantings, hedges, and specimen plantings.