Edible Plants
A selection of the best fruit trees, flowering vegetables and herbs to grow for food while attracting pollinators
List Curated by Thomas McBride From research data collected and collated at the National Botanic Garden of Wales
NB: Butterflies and Moths are not studied at the NBGW so any data on nectar plants beneficial for them is taken from Butterfly Conservation Map Maps depict the native area of the plant (in green) Guide to using these pages: They also show areas the plant is naturalised (in purple)
Latin Binomial All maps shown Name are derived from ‘Plants of the Common World Online’; English courtesy of Kew Name Gardens
Flowering Period Photograph (this is when it is good of the plant for pollinators!) in flower
Plant Family
Insect groups known to Growing habit favour the and mature size nectar of this of the plant plant
Useful knowledge or warnings about the plant RHS AGM cultivars of this species (or a related species occasionally) i Key to these Pages Warnings
Additional information on these garden plants
This plant would The flowers only be suitable for and/or leaves meadow-style have a Pleasant Plant tissue is highly planting scent toxic if ingested
The plant has edible parts that are Sap may cause irritation Plant is often used in commonly eaten or (Wash hands after touching traditional Herbal Remedies used in cooking or avoid touching)
ii Temperature RHS Hardiness Scale
Some of the plants listed in our Top 200 are not fully H1a - Above 15ºC hardy in all or some parts of the United Kingdom. H1b - Minimum 10ºC Plants without a thermometer symbol are fully hardy in the severest UK Winter; equating to H5 or hardier. H1c - Minimum 5ºC Plants with a coloured thermometer symbol are hardy to varying degrees as follows: H2 - Minimum 1ºC
H3 - Minimum -5ºC
H4 - Minimum -10ºC
H5 - Minimum -15ºC Almost Hardy Half-Hardy Not Frost Hardy Not Hardy (H4) (H3) (H2) (H1) iii Pollinators Our data on pollinators has been collected from studies spanning over a decade. Pollinator symbols appear when plants are proven to be good nectar (a) (b) plants for certain insects. It should be noted that all bee and hoverfly data is ours but lepidoptera data is taken from Butterfly Conservation.
Our data spans a wide range of different insect species. For simplicity, these species have been condensed into six easy icons to represent them: (c) (d) a) Honeybees c) Bumblebees e) Moths b) Hoverflies d) Butterflies f) Solitary Bees (Includes Moths)
(e) (f) iv Fruiting Trees, Shrubs & Perennials Fruit Trees and Shrubs are amongst the best plants for pollinators. Orchard trees such as apple, pear and plum trees have abundant flowers in the spring which are incredibly important for honeybees and many solitary bees to establish their nests or colonies for the year. Shrubs too, such as brambles in particular, provide a very important source of nectar through the summer. Brambles will spread but, in a larger garden, they can be contained in hedgerow areas; providing an excellent source of nectar to all pollinating insects. As well as plants from the Rosaceae, there are a number of other important fruits on this list. Fruiting vegetables, which botanically are fruit, such as courgettes, beans and pumpkins can be very popular with bumblebees in particular. If you do not have the time to plant large fruit trees and wait for them to grow, fruiting shrubs can be just as beneficial. Try blueberry bushes if you have acidic soil or citrus bushes in pots if you have a warm place to keep them over the winter period. For a more unusual fruit selection, why not try the fruits of the Amelanchier tree or the Strawberry-tree. Fruiting plants for pollinators are the best group to plant as picking the fruits will not reduce the flowering capacity of the plant; they are designed to have their fruits eaten as it is part of the natural process of seed dispersal. Actinidia chinensis Golden Kiwi
China
- None - Spring .
Actinidiaceae Kiwi Family
10ft+ Climber
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Manuel M. V. & Ting Chen (Flower) 1A Amelanchier lamarckii N. America Snowy Mespilus
- Species - Spring .
Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Tree
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Ekenitr 2A Arbutus unedo Mediterranean & Ireland Strawberry Tree
‘Atlantic’ Autumn . f. rubra
Ericaceae Heather Family
Small Tree
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Umberto Ferrando, Markus Nolf (fruit) 3A Naturalised in the Citrus maxima Citrus x aurantium Mediterranean Bitter Orange, Seville Orange Citrus maxima x Citrus reticulata SE Asia East Asia
Citrus reticulata
None Late Spring - Midsummer
Rutaceae Rue Family
Small Tree
* This plant should be kept under glass during the winter (cannot survive below -5’c night temperatures) Photograph from Flickr (CC) A Qiao 4A Naturalised in the Citrus medica Citrus x limon Mediterranean Lemon Citrus x aurantium x Citrus medica Cen. Asia
Citrus x aurantium
‘Meyer’ Late Spring - Midsummer ‘Variegata’
Rutaceae Rue Family
Small Tree
* Will not survive a frost, only half-hardy, bring indoors in winter. Recommended pot plant. Photograph from Flickr (CC) Jésus Cabrera 5A Cucurbita pepo Mexico
Courgette, Pumpkin (also Summer Squashes)
‘Jaguar’ ‘Orelia’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Tristan’ ‘Yolanda’
Cucurbitaceae Squash Family
3ft Annual
* Will not survive a frost, only half-hardy Photograph from Flickr (CC) Christian Guthier 6A Fragaria x ananassa N. America S. America Garden Strawberry Fragaria virginiana x Fragaria chiloensis
Fragaria Fragaria virginiana chiloensis
Spring . ‘Cambridge Fav.’ ‘Rhapsody’ Summer . (Berries)
Rosaceae Rose Family
2ft Trailing Annual
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Maja Dumat 7A Malus domestica Central Asia Apple Tree
‘Blenheim Orange’ Spring . ‘Worcester Pearmain’ S/A (Fruits) ‘Bramley’s Seedling’ Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Tree
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Kerry Woods 8A Morus nigra Persia Black Mulberry
‘Chelsea’ Summer . ‘Jerusalem’
Moraceae Mulberry Family
Small Tree
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Wouter Hagens, Beko (Fruit) 9A Olea europaea Olive Tree
Afro-Eurasia
None Summer .
Oleaceae Olive Family
Small Tree
* This plant will not survive below -10’c night temperatures, protect from very harsh winter nights Photograph from Flickr (CC) Miltos Gikas 10A Phaseolus coccineus C. America Runner Bean
‘Achievement’ Summer . ‘Celebration’
Fabaceae Legume Family
8ft Climber Perennial
* Will not survive a frost, only half-hardy Photograph from Flickr (CC) Maja Dumat 11A Prunus avium Afro-Eurasia Sweet Cherry Tree
Spring . ‘Morello’ ‘Penny’ Summer (Fruits) ‘Summer Sun’
Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Tree
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Gertjan van Noord 12A Prunus domestica Anatolia Garden Plum
Spring . ‘Victoria’ Summer (Fruits) ‘Cambridge Gage’
Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Tree
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Josef Laimer, Brigitte Rieser (fruit) 13A Pyrus communis Eurasia Pear Tree
Spring . ‘Concorde’ Summer (Fruits) ‘Doyenné du Comice’
Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Tree
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Sonnia Hill 14A Ribes uva-crispa Afro-Eurasia European Gooseberry
- Species - Mid Spring - Early Summer
Grossulariaceae Currant Family
Small Shrub
Photographs from Flickr (CC) Kev Wheeler (Fruit), Peter Stenzel (Flowers) 15A Rubus fruticosus Europe Bramble, Blackberry
Summer (Flowers) ‘Loch Ness’ ‘Loch Tay’ Autumn (Fruit)
Rosaceae Rose Family
Rambling Shrub
Photograph © Thomas McBride 16A Rubus idaeus Eurasia European Raspberry
Summer (Flowers) ‘All Gold’ ‘Glen Ample’ Autumn (Fruit)
Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Bjorn S, A Qiao (Flower) 17A Vaccinium corymbosum N. America Garden Blueberry
Late Spring . ‘Duke’ ‘Spartan’ Summer . (Berries)
Ericaceae Heather Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Maja Dumat (Flowers) & Rob Thurman (Fruit) 18A Vicia faba Central Asia Broad Bean
‘Aguadulce’ Late Spring Photograph from Flickr - Midsummer (CC) Franziska Geiser ‘Meteor’ *
Fabaceae Legume Family
2ft Perennial
* This cultivar and many others are slightly tender (will not withstand temperatures below -10’c) Photograph from Flickr (CC) Nicola Prisco 19A Vitis vinifera Eurasia Grapevine
‘Boskoop Glory’ Summer . ‘Purpurea’
Vitaceae Grape Family
10ft+ Vine
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andreas Rockstein, Morgan Sherwood (Fruit) 20A Herbs Many of our common garden herbs have flowers that are very beneficial to pollinating insects. Plants particularly in the mint family (Lamiaceae) and carrot family (Apiaceae) produce flowers abundantly while also producing aromatic leaves. Unlike fruit picking, plants aren’t exactly designed to have their leaves picked so, to keep them flowering profusely, pick the leaves sparingly to allow the plants to mature. Once mature, most of the perennial herbs will produce leaves far in excess of that which you can use in cooking. Herbs are used in a culinary sense to impart flavour; usually in savoury dishes. However, many herbs are also useful medicinally. For a more comprehensive list, including their traditional uses, see ‘Medicinal Plants for Pollinators’. N. America & Allium schoenoprasum Eurasia Chives
None Summer .
Amaryllidaceae Daffodil Family
1ft Bulbous
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Jakub Cabal 1B Allium ursinum Wild Garlic, Ramsons
Europe
None Spring .
Amaryllidaceae Daffodil Family
2ft Bulbous
Photograph © Thomas McBride 2B Anethum graveolens Middle East Common Dill
‘Moulton’ Summer . ‘Annete’ ‘Hera’
Apiaceae Carrot Family
3ft Annual
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Maja Dumat 3B Angelica archangelica Europe Garden Angelica
Related Species: Angelica sylvestris Summer . ‘Ebony’
Apiaceae Carrot Family
6ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Christophe Christophe 4B Chamaemelum nobile Mediterranean & The British Isles Common Camomile
None Summer .
Asteraceae Daisy Family
1ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Melanie Shaw 5B Foeniculum vulgare Afro-Eurasia Common Fennel
‘Florence Fino’ Summer . ‘Florence Orion’
Apiaceae Carrot Family
5ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Katy Wrathall 6B Hyssopus officinalis Afro-Eurasia Herb Hyssop
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Subshrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Lotus Johnson 7B Laurus nobilis Mediterranean Bay Tree, Laurel
‘Aurea’ Spring . f. angustifolia
Lauraceae Laurel Family
Large Shrub
* Not to be confused with a shrub, often referred to as Photograph from Flickr (CC) Jeremy Cherfas a laurel, which is actually a poisonous species of cherry. Its flowers are also white but without yellow pollen and occur8B on spikes. Lavandula angustifolia Mediterranean English Lavender
‘Folgate’ ‘Hidcote’ Summer . ‘Miss Katherine’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Peter Taylor 9B Mentha spicata Eurasia Spear Mint
None Early Summer - Early Autumn
Lamiaceae Mint Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Radu Chibzii 10B Origanum vulgare Afro-Eurasia Oregano Plant
‘Aureum’ Midsummer - Early Autumn
Lamiaceae Mint Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Gustav Og 11B Petroselinum crispum Balkans Parsley
‘Astra’ ‘Titan’ Summer . ‘Bravour’
Apiaceae Carrot Family
3ft Biennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andreas Rockstein 12B Rosmarinus officinalis Mediterranean Rosemary Plant
‘Sissinghurst Blue’ Late Spring - Midsummer ‘Miss Jessop’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Amanda Slater 13B Salvia microphylla N. America Blackcurrant Sage
‘Cerro Potosi’ Midsummer - Mid Autumn ‘Hot Lips’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Linda de Volder 14B Salvia officinalis Europe Garden Sage
‘Berggarten’ ‘Icterina’ Summer . ‘Purpurascens’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Sub-shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Marc St 15B Thymus vulgaris Europe Common Thyme
‘Silver Queen’ Summer .
Lamiaceae Mint Family
1ft Trailing Subshrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) John Winder 16B Other usages for edible plants Plants grown for fruit or aromatic leaves are two major groups of The fourth major group of edible plants are those with edible edibles to be found in an edible garden or allotment. However, there roots. Plants such as beetroot, onions, potatoes, swedes and are several other groups. Plants with edible leaves, such as lettuce and parsnips are not included in this list as, although they cabbage, are seldom allowed to flower so are not included in this list occasionally flower, they are either ill-advised to do so (affects with the exception of nasturtiums which flower prolifically but may the crop) or do so in only a small capacity. Potatoes will have a few flowers or leaves picked to garnish a dish. produce pollinator-friendly flowers. Chicory can be used for Some plants have leaves or root but is included as it can be very attractive in an edible flowers such edible garden and is pollinator-friendly. Jerusalem Artichoke as calendulas, tubers can be sparingly harvested at the end of the flowering roses, nasturtiums season and remaining tubers replanted. If you grow carrots, and elderflowers allow a few to bolt which will be beneficial for pollinators. that may be used as Finally, as for the remaining plants on this list, some plants a garnish or for are grown primarily for their seeds such as sunflowers, flavouring sweet amaranth or nigella. Others are grown for their flower buds dishes and drinks, such as artichoke and caper so must be harvested sparingly to e.g. Elderflower Cordial. allow full flowering and access to nectar for pollinating insects. Amaranthus caudatus S. America Love-lies-bleeding
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Amaranthaceae Amaranth Family
2ft Annual
* Will not survive a frost, only half-hardy Photograph from Flickr (CC) Alwyn Ladell 1C Calendula officinalis Iberia Common Marigold
‘Fiesta Gitana’ Early Summer - Early Autumn
Asteraceae Daisy Family
2ft Annual
Photograph © Thomas McBride 2C Capparis spinosa Mediterranean Caper Bush
Arabia
None Spring .
Capparaceae Caper Family
Medium Shrub
* This plant will not survive below -10’c night temperatures, protect from very harsh winter nights Photograph from Flickr (CC) Tracie Hall 3C Cichorium intybus Afro-Eurasia Chicory
None Summer .
Asteraceae Daisy Family
4ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Dan Mullen 4C Europe & Cynara cardunculus N. Africa Artichoke, Cardoon
- Species - Midsummer - Early Autumn ’Gros Vert de Lâon’
Asteraceae Daisy Family
8ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Jörg Bergmann 5C Daucus carota Afro-Eurasia Wild Carrot
Various cultivars of Ssp. sativus Summer . (Domesticated Carrots) Apiaceae Carrot Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph © Thomas McBride 6C Helianthus annuus N. America Common Sunflower
‘Claret’ ‘Waooh’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Valentine’
Asteraceae Daisy Family
* 3ft Annual
* Dry Seeds edible (‘sunflower seeds’), Seeds are harvested commercially for sunflower oil. Photograph from Flickr (CC) Henry Elliss 7C Helianthus tuberosus Jerusalem Artichoke
N. America
‘Lemon Queen’ Midsummer - Early Autumn
Asteraceae Daisy Family
* 6ft Annual
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Xulesc G 8C Humulus lupulus Hops
Afro-Eurasia
‘Aureus’ Summer .
Cannabaceae Cannabis Family
10ft+ Climber
Photograph © Thomas McBride 9C Linum usitatissimum Middle East Common Flax
Related species: Late Spring L. grandiflorum - Midsummer
Linaceae Flax Family
2ft Annual
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) John Brighenti 10C Nigella damascena Mediterranean Love-in-the-Mist
‘Miss Jekyll’ Summer . ‘Miss Jekyll Alba’
Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family
2ft Annual
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Rainer Stropek 11C Rosa x damascena Eurasia Persia Damask Rose Rosa gallica x Rosa moschata
Rosa Rosa gallica moschata
var. Summer . semperflorens
Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) A Qiao 12C Sambucus nigra Eurasia Common Elder
f. laciniata Late Spring - Midsummer ‘Thundercloud’
Adoxaceae Moschatel Family
Small Tree
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andreas Rockstein 13C Tropaeolum majus Peru Garden Nasturtium
F
‘Alaska series’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Whirlybird series’
Tropaeolaceae Nasturtium Family
1ft Trailing Annual
* This plant will not survive below -5’c night temperatures Photograph from Flickr (CC) Mayank Sharma 14C