sun dried goji berries - Guide Blog: Nov 26, 2008

goji berry seedsThe New Edibles - Top Three Edible Plants For 2007

Edible landscaping has hit the mainstream and it�s here to stay. The confluence of a desire to go green with an interest in food has created an eagerness to grow unusual plants that are edible as well as ornamental.

At the top of the list for its ornamental qualities as well as the great taste of its berries is the Chilean guava, Ugni molinae. This handsome evergreen shrub is a member of the myrtle family, and you can tell its provenance by the look and smell of the leaves. The small stamen-filled flowers appear in late spring, and berries ripen by late summer. Those berries are a shiny dark red, and although they�re smaller than a blueberry, they�re so packed with flavor you won�t realize how tiny they are. Queen Victoria held these berries in such high esteem that they were the source of her favorite jelly. And she was no slouch when it came to fine dining. This six-foot shrub needs a well-drained location protected from temperatures below 20 degrees F. Full or filtered sun will do. If you live in cold climates, consider growing the Chilean guava in a pot and bringing it indoors over the winter.

Every garden needs a vine and there�s no more beautiful choice than the Magnolia vine, Schisandra chinensis. For the first time, a self-fertile variety, �Eastern Prince,� is available, so you don�t have to grow a male and a female plant to obtain the prized berries. Those bright red berries grow in clumps like grapes, the leaves really do resemble magnolia leaves, and the stems exude a marvelous fragrance that�s a melding of citrus and daphne. This variety comes from eastern Russia, so it�s extremely cold-hardy. The Magnolia vine needs ample moisture and a location in filtered shade, where it will slowly climb to about 20 feet tall. Schisandra chinensis is one of the classic Chinese medicinal plants, known for its sustaining and protective properties. Its Chinese name, Wu Wei Zi, means five taste fruit, and it refers to the complex flavors of the fresh and dried berries, which sustained the Mongols during their long equestrian outings.

Now that goji berries have become so popular (yes, they�re even available at Costco), it�s no surprise that the gojiberry plant, Lycium barbarum, is being planted in many health-conscious gardens across the country. Also known as Chinese wolfberry, the gojiberry plant is a fast grower that can be grown as an arching shrub or a bushy vine to about eight feet tall and 8 feet wide. Native to the mountains of eastern Europe and Asia, the gojiberry likes full sun and good drainage. If you live in subtropical zones where freezing seldom occurs, you probably won�t get the coveted berries. All components of this plant have medicinal properties. In rural Chinese households, the young shoots and bark are cooked in stir-fries and soups. Flowers appear in late spring. It�s easy to miss them because they�re very small and not showy, unlike their fruit. The famous bright red berries of these self-fertile plants appear in mid-summer and are much tastier than the dried fruit, which can be reminiscent of chewing an old shoe. Many healthful qualities are attributed to the berries, including liver tonic, eyesight enhancement and anti-aging.

Few activities are as satisfying as growing a plant and eating the fruits of your labor. Try the new edibles, or look around your neighborhood for a thriving apple tree or grape vine. Ask your neighbor if you can take a cutting. You might make a friend as well as a new plant.

Maureen Burke is the owner of Bay Flora, an edible plant nursery located in California. Her plants can be found at http://bayflora.com