Exquisite Edibles: Plants that Feed our Senses

Photos by Doreen Wynja and Brandon Friend-Solis; Story by Emily Reeves

We're noticing a growing trend of gardeners embracing what we lovingly call "Exquisite Edibles," or ornamental fruiting plants and herbs chosen as much for their beauty as for what they offer at harvest.

(Above) Bountiful Blue® Blueberry provides an ample harvest and beautiful foliage.

The shift is especially strong among plant-lovers inspired by travel, memorable meals, and a desire to bring global flavors home. The result? A new kind of landscape that nourishes the senses, tells a personal story, and tastes delicious. Feeling inspired to explore? Join us on a delicious journey with exquisite edibles that could easily find a happy home in your own garden.

Why Exquisite Edibles Are Having a Moment

Cultural and practical forces are coming together in a way that makes edible landscaping feel both fresh and familiar again. Many of us want gardens that do more than just look good. With smaller yards and busy schedules, every plant has to pull its weight, offering beauty, seasonal interest, and something useful, too. Ornamental edible plants understand the assignment.

There’s also a growing interest in health, self-sufficiency, and knowing where our food comes from. Even a single blackberry shrub (Superlicious™ pictured here) or patio fig can reconnect gardeners with seasonal rhythms in their own backyards.

Travel plays a role, too. Many gardeners return from trips inspired by flavors they can’t forget, like fresh figs in Italy, homegrown herbs in Provence, and juicy kiwi in New Zealand, and look for ways to recreate those moments at home.

Add to that the realization that many edibles are genuinely stunning plants, and it’s easy to see why the lines between ornamental and productive landscapes are blurring.

In modern gardens, edible plants can be used as:

Foundation shrubs and low hedges
Architectural focal points
Container accents on patios and balconies

Beauty and productivity are no longer separate goals; they’re partners.

Beauty You Can Harvest

Blueberries as Landscape Shrubs

Blueberries are a standout example of how effortlessly an edible can function as an ornamental shrub. In spring, they’re covered in white flowers. Summer brings generous clusters of berries. And in the fall, the foliage turns striking shades of red, orange, and burgundy.

(Above) Bountiful™ Belle Blueberry produces large, plump berries in summer.

(Above) Clusters of pink-blushed flowers cover Bountiful Blue® Blueberry in spring.

Planted in groups, blueberries work beautifully as low hedges or foundation plantings. Compact varieties make them especially useful in smaller yards and urban gardens. Newer introductions like the Bountiful™ series offer tidy habits and abundant harvests, with options offering ultra-compact habits and gorgeous foliage.

For gardeners wondering about growing blueberries in the landscape, the appeal goes far beyond the bowl.

Fruit Trees as Architectural Elements

(Above) Fruit Snacks® Tangy Green™ Columnar Apple pulls double duty as a compact columnar landscape tree and a dependable producer of tasty green apples.

Fruit trees bring structure and presence; both qualities are often associated with ornamentals, but just as valuable in edible landscapes.

Espaliered apples can be used to create living walls, perfect for defining outdoor rooms or softening fences.
Columnar apples, like those in the Fruit Snacks® collection, offer vertical interest without demanding much space.
Hardy figs contribute bold foliage and a distinctly Mediterranean feel.
Dwarf fruit trees, including figs and the super compact dwarf pomegranate, provide spring bloom, summer fruit, and manageable size in one elegant package.

These trees aren’t just about harvest; they’re about form, rhythm, and year-round visual impact.

Herbs with Style

(Above) Riverina Thomas Lavender yields large flowers with copious amounts of aromatic oil, perfect for herbal and aromatic use.

Herbs may be the most versatile exquisite edibles of all. Lavender, rosemary, sweet bay, and mountain pepper pull double duty as fragrant design elements and kitchen staples.

Use them to edge pathways, anchor containers, or weave through perennial beds. Their scent adds an invisible layer to the garden, enhancing the sensory experience.

Small Space, Grand Flavor

As urban and suburban outdoor spaces shrink, edible gardening has adapted. Compact and patio-sized plants make it possible to grow meaningful harvests in courtyards, on balconies, and even on sunny stoops.

Columnar and dwarf fruit trees, compact berry varieties, and container-grown herbs allow gardeners to think vertically and creatively. A single container might hold a dwarf fruit tree underplanted with strawberries, a combo that's functional, beautiful, and entirely intentional.

Design Tips for Small-Space Edibles

Repeat the same plant variety for visual cohesion
Pair fruit trees with flowering perennials for extended interest
Mix herbs into ornamental beds rather than isolating them
Choose varieties bred for manageable size and container success

How to Begin an Exquisite Edible Garden

Starting doesn’t require a full redesign. A few thoughtful choices go a long way.

Begin with two or three anchor plants, like a group of blueberries, a dwarf fruit tree, and a few rosemary plants near the door.
Think in layers: trees, shrubs, and groundcovers can all be edible
Integrate rather than isolate; let edibles live alongside ornamentals
Choose plants suited to your USDA zone
Ensure adequate sunlight; most edibles need six or more hours
For beginners, start with blueberries, figs, or herbs
For small yards, consider compact or columnar trees, like Fruit Snacks® Columnar Apple trees.
For a statement plant, choose a fig or an espaliered apple

Gardening with edibles doesn’t have to be complicated; it just has to be intentional.

Get the Look with These Exquisite Edibles

Learn More About Growing Exquisite Edible Gardens

Find a library full of free digital design guides here
Sign up for our Grow Beautifully newsletter. You'll get more design inspiration, garden tips, how-tos, and first access to exclusive guides, webinars, and plants

Ready to Grow?

Ship Monrovia plants directly to your door. Browse a curated selection available online.

Shop Now >

2026-03-10 18:54:16

Exquisite Edibles: Plants that Feed our Senses

Why Exquisite Edibles Are Having a Moment

In modern gardens, edible plants can be used as: