5 Native Edible Shrubs in New England
One component of ecological landscape design is incorporating yourself and other people into your landscape, while also enhancing the ecological value by using native plants. Incorporating edible plants helps to bridge this gap and make your garden an edible one. Lower maintenance, productive, ecologically sound all make for great landscape design.
Serviceberry
Amelanchier spp.
- From shrub to small tree
- 4 season interest
- Nutty, blueberry flavor
American Plum
Prunus americana
- Resilient, grows well in tough spots
- Small tree/multi stemmed shrub
- Can sucker and form colonies
- Medium sized fruits
Beach Plum
Prunus maritima
- Nice flavorful plums
- Great production on well drained soil
- Great for well drained soil
- Can form into a hedgerow
Nannyberry
Viburnum lentago
- Shade-tolerant
- Shrub borders, hedges, windbreaks
- Seasonal displays of flowers, fruits, and fall leaf color
- Fruits are sweet and eaten by many species of birds and wildlife
Blueberry
Vaccinium spp.
- Blueberry flavor
- Cultivars for good production
- Highly favored by all wildlife
- Highbush and lowbush blueberries
American Hazelnut
Corylus americana
- Flavorful nuts
- Cultivars available for better fruit production
- Fall color
Thank you
Other edible natives are available, but these are the most commonly available nursery plants that grow well in New England.