6.4K Views 2 years ago

10+ Evergreen Plants with Food Payoffs

Author Bio

Jonathon Engels, a long-time vegetarian turned vegan, is currently on a trip from Guatemala to... Read More

Evergreen plants can be an important part of our landscaping because they offer some much-needed color during the winter months when deciduous trees and shrubs have dropped their leaves. Here in the temperate climate, which includes every state in the Union, these plants leave us with lots of bare branches for at least a few months.

Having some evergreens makes those colder months less drab. It’s always nice to look out the window and see a bit of life out there, no matter how cold it has gotten. And we don’t just want conifers here, either. There are loads of evergreens that can provide us with a vibrant and varied winter landscape.

Now, anyone trying to move towards a more sustainable yard and lifestyle is going to be looking for plants that produce some food. And, lo and behold, there are plenty of evergreens, from ground-hugging herbs to skyscraping trees, that fit the bill.

1. Culinary Herbs

Source: Mountain Rose Herbs/Youtube

Lots of popular culinary herbs don’t grow in winter. Basil doesn’t. Cilantro and parsley can’t make it through deep freezes. But lots of herbs can, and they are great shrubbery and groundcover to keep color in the yard.

Rosemary and sage are pretty evergreen shrubs that can survive freezing temperatures. Thyme and oregano withstand stiff winter winds and make great groundcovers. Bay laurels (culinary bay leaves) do pretty well in USDA Zone 7, which is half or more of the US.

2. Sorrel

This is a leafy, perennial, evergreen vegetable that grows in cold climates. Sorrel can be used much like spinach, and like spinach, it has high oxalic acid levels, so should be eaten a bit at a time. It has a nice zingy flavor.

3. Globe Artichokes

Globe artichokes do have cold limitations and will struggle in places colder than USDA 7. However, they are impressive shrubs with a spread reaching up to four feet. They have nice flowers, and the plants can be replicated from suckers and offsets.

4. Lingonberry

Source: Garden w/ Paul/Youtube

These are very cold-hardy, thriving in Scandinavian countries, and the plants stay low enough—about a foot high—to work as groundcovers under trees in the orchard. They like acidic soil and produce tart berries that look a lot like cranberries.

5. Sunshine Blueberry

Considered semi-evergreen, sunshine blueberry plants grow to around three feet high and wide, and they can survive into USDA Zone 5. They have very pretty flowers, notably nice-tasting berries, and have lower chill hours than other blueberries. “Semi-evergreen” refers to the plant’s habit of shedding some leaves in fall and holding others into, or through, winter depending on the severity of the season.

6. Evergreen Huckleberry

Source: Nerdy About Nature/Youtube

Very easily confused with blueberries, huckleberries look very similar and grow in some of the same settings. They like acidic soil, but they don’t do quite as well in the colder regions. Evergreen huckleberries are ideal for USDA Zone 7-9. They can be six feet tall.

7. Japanese Plum Yew

A most unusual plant, the Japanese plum yew looks a bit like a fern, and it can even grow well in the shadier spots. This is a slow-growing plant, but it is deer-resistant. In order to produce fruit, both male and female plants will need to be present. While the fruit of these particular plants is edible, yews have high-severity poison characteristics. Be very careful with it.

8. Pineapple Guava

Source: Yard Coach/Youtube

These are small trees best suited for warm temperate climates (USDA Zone 8 and warmer), but they can be grown in pots elsewhere. They only get to about six feet tall. The delicious fruits are small, up to three inches long and two inches around. Despite their name, they are actually guavas, though they are in the same family.

9. Strawberry Tree

Named for its little red fruit, which at a distance and without glasses on might be mistaken for strawberries, the strawberry tree is evergreen. It has nicely scented flowers that bloom in fall. The fruit, however, is considered a bit bland with a sometimes-unpleasant aftertaste. It is viable from Zone 4-9.

10. Bamboo

Source: EatYourYardJax/Youtube

Yes, yes, it’s technically grass, but bamboo can reach dizzying heights, and many varieties of it provide delicious bamboo shoots for those willing to process them. Many bamboos are evergreen in the US. They make awesome, fast-growing hedges and privacy barriers, but it is important to keep them under control by planting them strategically.

What an awesome thought! A garden can be highly productive and remain green and lively throughout the year. That’s the kind of garden we all want in our lives!

Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content.Click here to Support Us