Beautiful & Bountiful:

The Art of Edible Landscaping

Spring has a way of nudging us toward renewal—clearing out the old, freshening things up, and maybe even looking at our gardens with new eyes. One trend that’s gaining traction, and for good reason, is edible landscaping. It’s where beauty and practicality meet—your garden not only looks great, but it also gives back in the most delicious ways.

You don’t need rows of vegetables or an orchard out back to embrace the idea. Many edible plants are just as stunning as traditional ornamentals. With a bit of planning, your yard, patio, or even a few containers can become a vibrant, nourishing extension of your home.

What Is Edible Landscaping?

Becoming known as “foodscaping,” edible landscaping is all about mixing food-producing plants into your everyday garden design. Instead of keeping herbs and veggies tucked away in a hidden corner, they become part of the main act - nestled between perennials, lining walkways, or spilling out of decorative pots.

It’s not about replacing beauty with function. It’s about having both. A front yard can be just as eye-catching with rainbow chard and nasturtiums as it is with boxwoods and petunias—and maybe even more rewarding.

10 Edible Plants That Look as Good as They Taste

Looking to dip your toes into edible landscaping? These ten plants are easy to grow, beautiful to look at, and well-suited to our local climate:

Swiss Chard

Glossy leaves and colorful stems in shades of red, pink, orange and yellow make this leafy green a showstopper. Edible leaves are delicious sautéed or in salads.

Nasturtiums

Their bright, trailing blooms are great for filling in garden gaps or spilling over containers. Both the flowers and leaves are edible and add a peppery bite.

Currants (Red or Black)

These hardy shrubs offer delicate spring flowers and juicy summer berries. They’re compact, attractive, and well-suited to our local soil.

Purple Basil

A deep, rich purple adds contrast to any bed. It’s fragrant, edible, and a favorite in summer dishes. Plus, bees love it when you let it flower.

Kale

While traditionally grown for looks, many varieties are edible too. Their ruffled leaves add texture and color to planters and beds.

Thyme

Low-growing and fragrant, thyme makes a lovely edging plant or groundcover. It's drought-tolerant and adds a subtle herbal note to meals.

Rhubarb

Big, bold leaves and crimson stalks give rhubarb a dramatic look. Only the stalks are edible, but what a treat they are in pies and jams.

Calendula (Pot Marigold)

These golden blooms brighten up any bed. The petals are edible with a mild, saffron- like flavor and are often used in herbal teas or to add a splash of color to dishes.

Chives

Their grass-like leaves and pom-pom flowers are not only charming—they’re also great chopped into eggs, dips, and salads.

Sage

With its silvery-green leaves and purple blooms, sage is both elegant and tough. It thrives in sun and brings bold flavor to savory dishes.

Designing with a Purpose

When planning an edible landscape, approach it like you would any garden: think in layers. Taller plants like rhubarb or currants can anchor a space, while medium-height herbs and greens provide structure. Low-growing plants like thyme or nasturtiums make perfect fillers and edgers.

Keep plant needs in mind—sun, soil, water—and don’t be afraid to mix textures and colors. A bed with rainbow chard, lavender, and sage is as beautiful as it is functional.

Short on space? Containers are your best friend. Herbs like basil, rosemary, or chives thrive in pots and can live just steps from your kitchen door for easy harvesting.

Beauty with a Bonus

What makes edible landscaping so rewarding is that it invites you to interact with your space. Maybe it’s snipping fresh herbs for dinner, grabbing a handful of berries on your way out the door, or watching bees dance through the blooms—it’s gardening that engages all your senses.

So this spring, why not let your garden do more than just look good? With a few thoughtful additions, you can create a space that’s beautiful, bountiful, and uniquely yours.

More from the Experts at Gainan's

About Gainan's Midtown Flowers & Garden Center 

Gainan's Flowers and Garden Center is family owned and operated with a rich and storied history. We are committed to offering only the finest floral arrangements and gifts backed by service that is friendly and prompt. That is why we always go the extra mile to make your gift perfect. Our business is to turn feelings into flowers. Together, we have celebrated births, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and mourned with our customers seeking sympathy tributes. We are so fortunate, and thank our community of customers beyond measure for allowing us the opportunity to partner with them in all the seasons of their lives.