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EDIBLE LANDSCAPING PLANTS
red cardinalattractive to wildlife 
picture of Juneberry shrub

Landscaping shouldn't be limited to the same old shrubbery.

 Have fun with your yard! Design a miniature wildlife refuge...

 Make some wild jams & jellies ...
 Plants can be useful and ornamental!

 Plants Listed: 

Blackhaw — Viburnum prunifolium
Buffaloberry —Shepherdia argentea 
Elderberry — Sambucus canadensis
Homestead Hawthorn — Crataegus mollis
American Highbush Cranberry — Viburnum trilobum
Nannyberry — Viburnum lentago
Nero Chokeberry — Aronia melanocarpa
Northrop Mulberry — Morus alba
Rugosa Rose — Rosa Rugosa 
Sea Buckthorn — Hippophae rhamnoides
Serviceberry (Wild Juneberry) — Amelanchier alnifolia & canadensis
Siberian Peashrub — Caragana arborescens
Wayfaring Bush — Viburnum lantana
Wentworth Highbush Cranberry — Viburnum trilobum
Winterberry — Ilex verticillata 

Note: 
Looking for seedling apples, pears, plums or apricots for
rootstock, pollinators or deer plantings? Click this link: seedling fruit

Looking for currants? See our new currant section for gooseberries and 
red, white, and black currants: currants

Looking for native shrubs for naturalizing, including American Highbush
Cranberry and Nannyberry? Click this link: native shrubs

 

Blackhaw — Viburnum prunifolium

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 

1 to 2 ft. plants $6.00 each, $50 package of 10

At least two plants required for pollination.

This shrub or small tree is often multi-stemmed, growing to a height of 10 to 15 ft. It has attractive, small white clusters of flowers and sweet, flat-seeded fruits. Numerous opposite, short lateral shoots give it a dense twigginess like Hawthorn, but without the thorns. 

 
 
illustration of buffaloberry

Buffaloberry — Shepherdia argentea

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 

18 in. to 3 ft. plants $5.50 each

At least two plants required for pollination.

This attractive silver-leafed shrub is excellent for hedges (reaching 8 to12 ft,) extremely hardy, nitrogen-fixing, tolerant of drought and high pH, and produces a small tart berry superb for jams and jellies. Plants are male or female and are not sexed, so it's best to plant several to ensure pollination. Although tolerant to drought when mature, it establishes best with plenty of water. Space plants 2 to3 feet apart for a hedge.

 
 

picture of elderberry


 

Elderberry Syrup
the best medicine for colds and flu;
a wonderful winter tonic!
Cut the umbels of fruit when the berries are black
You can "rake" the berries from the stems with a fork. 
Cook on top of stoves with a small amount of water, 
then strain as for jelly. (Optional: add 2 1/2 cups sugar 
and 10 whole cloves for each pint of juice to make syrup 

Elderberries — Sambucus canadensis

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 

1 ft. rooted cuttings $5.50 each, $38 package of 8 (2 of each variety)

At least two different varieties required for pollination.

A pretty ornamental and fruit bush which will grow to a height of 6 to7 feet. Berries are ideal for pies, jam, juices and wine. Flowers excellent for wine. The elderberry tolerates wet locations well, is productive and hardy, and has lovely fall foliage. Plant 4 to 6 feet apart. These plants come as a rooted cutting; they should be buried with the green stem (if any) above the ground and the rest just below the surface. Two or more varieties should be planted for cross-pollination. 
Varieties offered:
Adams
Originated in N.Y.S., 1926. Berries exceptionally large.
Johns
Originated in Nova Scotia Experiment Station. Has large berries and clusters, ripens earlier than Adams. Extremely vigorous.
Nova
Originated in Nova Scotia in 1946 as an open-pollinated seedling of Adams. Fruit large, sweet and uniform. Extremely vigorous.
York
Originated in NY State, 1964. A very large bush with fruit larger than Adams. Considered one of the best cultivars.

 
illustration of hawthorn

Homestead Hawthorn  — Cretaegus mollis

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 

2 to 3 ft. trees $6.00 each, $50 Package of 10

The small (15 ft. at maturity) tree is extremely hardy and attractive with its long thorns, pretty Spring flowers, ornamental fruit and brilliant Fall color. Hawthorn berries have long been used in herbal medicine, and birds also enjoy them. Plant 15 feet apart, or 6 to 8 feet apart for a hedge. 

 
illustration of nannyberry

Nannyberry (Wild Raisin) — Viburnum lentago

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 

18 in to 3 ft. plants $6.50 each, $50 package of 10

At least two plants required for pollination.

About 8 to10 feet when fully grown, this attractive bush bears a sweet flat-seeded berry. Good to eat, if you can beat the birds to the crop. Extremely hardy. Plant 3 to 4 feet apart 

 
 
illustration of Nero Chokeberry

"Nero" Chokeberry — Aronia melanocarpa

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 

1 to 2  ft. plants $7.50 each, $60 Package of 10

Used traditionally as a landscape plant due to its hardiness and its shiny, clean-cut leaves which turn crimson in the Fall. Nero also produces a fruit that is reputedly used in the Soviet Union for pie production. The berries are slightly astringent. Will reach a height of 5 feet. Plant 6 ft. apart, or 3 to 4 ft. apart for a hedge. 

Northrop Mulberry — Morus alba

red cardinal iconattractive to wildlife

3 to 5 ft. trees $16.00 each

Northrop is the hardiest mulberry we've found. The parent tree was planted on the Northrop farm in the 1850's. Its location is just outside of Potsdam, and it is the only mulberry for 70 miles in all directions. It is now over 2 1/2 feet in diameter and 70 feet tall. These plants are propagated via tissue culture rather than by grafting, so they are genetically identical to the parent from root to tip. Even though Northrop exhibits great hardiness, (it has survived minus 50 degrees F.,) young plants may take some winter dieback due to extremely rapid growth in their first few seasons. With care, Northrop can fruit in 3 to 5 years. Self-fertile.

 
picture of rugosa rose

Rugosa Rose —  Rosa rugosa

1 to 2ft. plants $6.50 each, $55 package of 10

At least two plants required for pollination.

A strong grower and tolerant to salt and sandy soil, this ornamental rose bush will reach a height of 3 to 6 feet. It blooms fragrantly throughout the summer, producing large, mild-flavored hips with an extremely high vitamin C content. The hips can be dried for tea or used for jam, jelly, syrup, and sauces. Rosa rugosa is the hardiest rose known, withstanding -50oF. with no damage. Plant 1 to 2 feet apart for hedge. Note: See also our new listing of purely ornamental Rugosa Rose selections in Shrubs and Hedges. 

illustration of Sea Buckthorn

Sea Buckthorn — Hippophae rhamnoides

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 


Bright orange berries clustered close to the stem, beautiful silver-grey foliage, and long thorns characterize this small tree or shrub (10-12 ft. at maturity,) also known as "Cberski Ananas" or "Siberian pineapple." We were pleased and surprised one Fall to notice the yard of a customer who had planted his "seaberries" several years ago...they had made a striking and unique roadside hedge. Sea Buckthorn is tough and salt tolerant. The berries, through astringent, are high in vitamins C and E. Extremely hardy and tolerant to drought, they will also grow on alkaline soils. Wild type plants are male or female and are not sexed, so it's best to plant several to ensure pollination and fruiting.  Space no more than 6 to 8 ft. apart.
*Wild type/unsexed  — 18 in to 3 ft. plants $5.00 each  Plant several to ensure pollination and fruiting.

 
illustration of wild juneberry

Wild Juneberry or Serviceberry — Amelanchier alnifolia & canadensis

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 

 2 to 3 ft. plants $6.00 each, $50 package of 10

At least two plants required for pollination.

These are unselected (wild-type) seedlings. The fruit, while it is smaller and less abundant than that of the selected Juneberry or "Saskatoon" varieties, is very attractive to wildlife. Also known as Shadblow, this native shrub, more like a small tree, is the first to adorn the Spring landscape, bursting forth with a profusion of smalll white flowers. The fruit is similar to a blueberry. Fall foliage is striking red splashed with yellow and orange. The lowbush form, Amelanchier alnifolia, grows best in the western states, whereas the highbush form, Amelanchier canadensis, is best for eastern locations. Alnifolia grows to 6-10 feet and should be spaced 3 to 4 feet apart; canadensis reaches 20-25 feet and should be planted at least 6 to 8 feet apart.

 

picture of Siberian Peashrub

Siberian Pea Shrub — Caragana arborescens

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 

1 to 2 ft. plants $6.00 each, $50 package of 10

At least two plants required for pollination.

A member of the legume family, this attractive shrub is nitrogen-fixing, extremely hardy and  produces  small podded peas about the size of elderberries. The ``peas'' are reportedly 36% protein and could be used for flour, sprouts or animal (particularly chicken) feed. Mature height is 10 to12 ft.; may be kept shorter by pruning. Spacing should be 8 to15 feet, or 4-6 feet apart for a hedge.

 

Wayfaring Bush — Viburnum lantana

3  to 4 ft. plants $6.00 each 

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 
 

At least two plants required for pollination.

A rounded shrub about 8 to 12 ft. high with an 8 - 12 ft. spread when mature.  The coarse, symmetrical texture of the leaves, downy shoots, and noticeable buds at each axil make this a visually interesting plant.  Early blooming panicles of flowers give way to flat clusters of yellow-green berries that turn red and then black.  Birds enjoy the fruit.

 

 
illustration of highbush cranberry

American Highbush Cranberry — Viburnum trilobum

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 

1 to 2 ft. plants $6.00 each, $50 package of 10

Used for jams, preserves and to attract wildlife, the "cranberry" bush is not a true cranberry but rather a Viburnum, related to the Nannyberry. Fruit is bright red and hangs in large clusters long after the leaves are gone, contrasting nicely against the light-colored stems and yellow buds and making an attractive dense winter hedge, which will reach 6-10 feet. Highbush cranberry thrives on a variety of soil types, even slightly wet areas (but not in a bog or swamp). Plant 3 to5 ft. apart for a hedge. 

Wentworth Highbush Cranberry — Viburnum trilobum

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 

1 to 2 ft. plants $8.00 each

A selection of the native highbush cranberry  with less tartness to the fruit. Berries are bright red and are borne in large clusters that are particularly ornamental against a background of winter white. Bushes reach 6-10 feet and make a great hedge.

 
illustration of winterberry

Winterberry — Ilex verticulata

red cardinalattractive to wildlife 
 

1 to 3 ft. plants 

Female "Winter Red" $7.00 each 

Male $5.50 each 

$60 for package of 10 (8 female, 2 male)

At least one male and one female required for pollination.

A bright flash of color in an otherwise barren landscape, winterberry shows up best in late Fall.  This northern holly loses its leaves but produces scarlet red berries which hug the stem, lasting well into winter to provide food for hungry birds.  The boughs make beautiful decorations for the Winter Solstice season.  Mature plants will reach 6 to 8 feet.  Winterberry plants are male or female; only females make berries, but both are neccesary for fruiting.  Plant males 2 to 10 feet from females or plant 1 of each sex in the same hole to ensure pollination.