Here’s something new to us this year – blueberries in our front yard landscaping. I’ve been trying to do this for years but ended up on some other gardening escapade instead. I mean, there’s like a kazillion ways to go with this gardening thing. So many plants; so little time and all that. But this year we got the blueberries in and along with our columnar apple trees, they’re creating a truly edible landscape.

Recently edible landscaping has gotten a lot of attention and I have no idea why it hasn’t caught on earlier. It’s such a brilliant way of taking advantage of the little bit of land that many of us have but use strictly for ornamentals.

Not that I’m against ornamentals – on the contrary. I have 6 Japanese maples adorning my yards, 5 camellias, and quite a few roses, to name a few. And trust me, they aren’t coming out. But it might not be obvious that food can be just as decorative and brings the added benefit of feeding you, too.

Take my blueberries, for example. The dwarf varieties are compact and nicely shaped just as any ornamental shrub should be. They’ll reach about 1 1/2 to 3 feet high when they’re mature. If you’d prefer taller bushes, you can plant the highbush plants that will grow to 5 or 6 feet tall.

Right now they have these darling little pink bell flowers on them which began showing up in February when many other shrubs are refusing to share their blossoms. In the summer, we’ll have plump, delicious berries for snacking, pies, ice cream, and muffins. After that, many blueberry bushes will add fall color by offering brilliant red or even yellow leaves.

I’m having a hard time figuring out why blueberries aren’t routinely added to landscaping to begin with. I know what you’re thinking. You’re figuring that maybe people don’t want a plant that loses all of it’s leaves. That there’s no winter interest, am I right?

Not to brag (I mean I didn’t create the variety) but the blueberries we planted are called “Sunshine” than they are an evergreen shrub (zone 9). That said, most blueberry varieties are deciduous shrubs. But are you honestly going to find fault with a lady for taking her time to get dressed? And when she does show up, she looks like a million bucks – for months at a time. C’mon, you couldn’t pull that off.

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point - no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.

Buy at Amazon

The New Organic Grower, 3rd Edition: A Master's Manual of Tools and Techniques for the Home and Market Gardener, 30th Anniversary Edition

Fine Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

Since its original publication in 1989, The New Organic Grower has been one of the most important farming books available, with pioneer Eliot Coleman leading the charge in the organic movement in the United States. Now fully illustrated and updated, this 30th Anniversary Edition is a must-have for any agricultural library.

Buy at Amazon