🌿✨ The Rise of Foodscaping: Combining Beauty and Edibility

Once upon a time, vegetables belonged in tidy rows behind the house, out of sight. Flowers lived in their own ornamental beds. And fruit trees lined the orchard, far from the front walk.

But today’s gardens are delightfully rebellious. We are embracing foodscaping — the art of combining edible and ornamental plants in one beautiful, harmonious space.

And the best part? Foodscaping works wonderfully in small gardens, cozy cottage plots, patios, and balconies alike.

Here’s how to begin.

1️⃣ What Is Foodscaping?

Foodscaping blends two desires:

• A garden that is beautiful — full of color, texture, scent, and seasonal charm

• A garden that is productive — providing fresh herbs, fruits, vegetables, and edible flowers

Think of it as edible landscaping — or, if you like, planting with a touch of delicious practicality.

2️⃣ Why Foodscaping Is Rising in Popularity

Gardeners today want:

• Beauty with purpose

• To make the most of small spaces

• To eat more fresh, seasonal food

• To support pollinators with diverse plantings

• To reduce food miles and reconnect with nature

And in truth — it’s simply joyful to walk through your garden and snack on strawberries, mint, or snap peas along the way.

3️⃣ How to Start Foodscaping

🌸 Blend Flowers & Edibles

Interplant:

• Nasturtiums with kale

• Marigolds with tomatoes

• Calendula with lettuce

• Lavender with carrots

Flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects — and many are edible!

🌳 Choose Beautiful Edibles

Some edibles double as ornamental stars:

• Swiss chard with rainbow stems

• Purple basil

• Curly kale

• Blueberries (stunning fall color + fruit)

• Dwarf fruit trees in containers

🥕 Layer Your Planting

Use vertical space:

• Espalier fruit trees along fences

• Beans or peas on trellises

• Hanging baskets with strawberries

🐝 Support Pollinators

A well-designed foodscape is also a pollinator paradise:

• Include plenty of nectar-rich flowers

• Allow herbs like thyme and oregano to bloom

• Provide water sources

4️⃣ Small Space Foodscaping Ideas

Even in a tiny garden or patio:

• Use beautiful containers with herbs and edible flowers

• Create mixed raised beds with veggies and blooms

• Plant fruiting shrubs along pathways

Final Thought

Foodscaping invites us to see the garden differently — as a living, layered, edible work of art.

Whether you tuck a few edible flowers into your flower beds, or fully redesign your space for beauty and bounty, the possibilities are endless — and delicious. 🌿✨ Cheers!