10 Ornamental Plants That Produce Food: Beauty Meets Utility in the Landscape
- Bretton Lakes
- Jul 7
- 5 min read
10 Ornamental Plants That Produce Food
When most people think of landscaping, they imagine pristine lawns, ornamental shrubs, and pops of colorful flowers. But what if your landscape could be more than just a visual delight? What if it could feed you, attract pollinators, build soil, and support local ecology—all while looking stunning?
In the world of permaculture, we aim to work with nature, not against it. That means choosing plants that serve multiple functions: food, medicine, habitat, beauty, and more. Fortunately, you don’t have to trade looks for function. There’s a sweet spot where form meets function—ornamental plants that are also edible or otherwise useful.
Here are 10 of the best ornamental plants that produce food, ideal for sustainable, productive, and beautiful landscaping.
1.Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.)
Why They’re Beautiful:
In spring, blueberries offer delicate bell-shaped flowers. In summer, they’re loaded with blue-purple fruit. But the real show comes in fall when their foliage turns fiery red and orange.
Why They’re Useful:
Beyond delicious berries rich in antioxidants, blueberries support native pollinators. Many varieties are perennial, low-maintenance, and perfect for borders or foundation plantings.
Design Tip: Use as a hedge or foundation shrub. Plant multiple varieties for better cross-pollination and a longer harvest season.
2.Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
Why They’re Beautiful:
This native small tree or large shrub produces clouds of white blossoms in early spring, tasty berries in summer, and vibrant yellow to red foliage in fall. It’s ornamental year-round.
Why They’re Useful:
Serviceberries (aka juneberries or Saskatoon berries) taste like a mix between blueberries and almonds. They’re excellent fresh or in pies, and they feed birds and wildlife, too.
Design Tip: Plant as a focal point tree or in mixed shrub borders. It thrives in sun to part shade.
Artichoke (Cynara scolymus)
Why They’re Beautiful:
These thistle relatives form massive silver-green rosettes and can reach 3–4 feet in height. If you let the buds bloom, they turn into giant, electric purple flowers that steal the show.
Why They’re Useful:
Harvest the immature flower buds (the “artichoke”) for food. They’re perennial in warmer zones (8+) and grown as annuals elsewhere.
Design Tip: Plant in the front yard as a dramatic accent. They blend well into Mediterranean or modern landscapes.
Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)
Why They’re Beautiful:
Rhubarb boasts large, bold, deeply veined leaves and thick red or green stalks. It adds a tropical texture to temperate gardens.
Why They’re Useful:
The stalks are a spring delicacy, often used in pies, jams, and sauces. It’s one of the first edibles ready to harvest each year. (Note: The leaves are toxic—don’t eat those!)
Design Tip: Tuck rhubarb into ornamental beds where you’d normally place hostas or elephant ears.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Why They’re Beautiful:
Chives form tidy green clumps and produce lovely purple pom-pom flowers in late spring that pollinators love.
Why They’re Useful:
Snip chives regularly for a mild onion flavor in cooking. The flowers are edible, too—and make gorgeous garnishes.
Design Tip: Use chives as an edging plant or ground cover. Their low height and tidy habit make them perfect for formal or informal gardens.
Figs (Ficus carica)
Why They’re Beautiful:
With their bold, lobed leaves and sculptural form, fig trees have a lush, tropical look. Some varieties even have striking bark and unique branching patterns.
Why They’re Useful:
Figs produce sweet, high-energy fruit in summer and fall. They’re easy to grow in containers or espaliered along walls in colder zones.
Design Tip: Use as a small tree or espalier it along a sunny wall. Cold-hardy varieties exist for zone 6 and up with protection.
Scarlet Runner Bean (Phaseolus coccineus)
Why They’re Beautiful:
This fast-growing climber produces brilliant red flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, followed by edible green pods and dried beans.
Why They’re Useful:
Both the young pods and mature beans are edible. The flowers also make a striking display over trellises or arbors.
Design Tip: Grow over fences, pergolas, or obelisks. It creates seasonal privacy and color with a purpose.
Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana)
Why They’re Beautiful:
This evergreen shrub has silvery-green foliage and exotic pink-red flowers with edible petals. The whole plant smells faintly sweet and tropical.
Why They’re Useful:
The guava-like fruits ripen in fall and are delicious raw or in preserves. The petals of the flowers are also edible and taste like cotton candy.
Design Tip: Use in hedges or as a small ornamental tree. It’s drought-tolerant and thrives in warm climates (zones 8–10).
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis or S. nigra)
Why They’re Beautiful:
Elderberries have frothy white flower clusters in early summer followed by purple-black berry clusters. Some cultivars, like ‘Black Lace,’ have stunning dark foliage.
Why They’re Useful:
Elderflowers and berries are used for syrups, wines, jams, and immune-boosting remedies (berries must be cooked before eating).
Design Tip: Great for rain gardens or the back of a border. ‘Black Lace’ and ‘Lemony Lace’ are especially striking in ornamental settings.
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Why They’re Beautiful:
These cheerful flowers bloom in a range of fiery hues—red, orange, yellow—against a backdrop of round, water-lily-like leaves.
Why They’re Useful:
Both the leaves and flowers are edible with a peppery kick, great for salads or garnishes. They also attract pollinators and repel pests.
Design Tip: Plant as a trailing edge in containers, raised beds, or rock gardens. They self-seed readily in hospitable climates.
Integrating Edible Ornamentals Into Your Landscape
The best part about these plants? They don’t look like a typical vegetable garden. They’re at home in front yards, urban lots, suburban flower beds, and public-facing landscapes where beauty is just as important as production.
Here’s how to blend them into your design:
Layer by height and season: Use taller edible shrubs like serviceberries or figs as focal points, medium plants like rhubarb or artichokes for bulk, and smaller accents like chives or nasturtiums around the edges.
Mix textures and colors: Rhubarb’s bold leaves, chives’ spiky foliage, and nasturtium’s round leaves create visual contrast.
Embrace polyculture: Plant several species together to mimic natural ecosystems, reduce pests, and support biodiversity.
Use permaculture zones: Keep the most frequently harvested plants (like chives or nasturtiums) near paths or entrances.
Aesthetic and Abundant: The Future of Landscaping
There’s no rule that says food gardens must be hidden in the backyard or relegated to raised beds. More and more people are waking up to the idea that landscapes can be productive, sustainable, and stunning all at once. Whether you have a large property or a postage-stamp yard, these ornamental edibles offer a way to enrich your space and your plate.
Start small, swap out a few traditional ornamentals, and before long, you’ll find your yard buzzing with pollinators, brimming with harvests, and admired by neighbors.
After all, why just grow pretty plants when you can grow pretty plants that feed you, too?
Want more tips on edible landscaping, permaculture design, or low-maintenance food forests? Check out more resources on Arcadia and follow along for seasonal guides, plant profiles, and design inspiration.
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