Woodland Garden Plants

The present-day cultivation of large areas of single annual crops such as wheat might seem, on the surface, to be a very productive and efficient use of land (average wheat yields this century have increased more than three-fold to over 3 tons per acre). When other factors are taken into account, however, it can be argued that this is a very unproductive and unsustainable use of the land.

A woodland, on the other hand, might seem to be a very unproductive area for human food (unless you happen to like eating acorns). By choosing the right species, however, a woodland garden can produce a larger crop of food than the same area of wheat, will require far less work to manage it and will be able to be sustainably harvested without harm to the soil or the environment in general.

I do not intend to go into any more details of the pros and cons of annuals versus perennials here. If you would like more information on this subject then please see our leaflet Why Perennials.

One of the main reasons why a woodland garden can be so productive is that such a wide range of plants can be grown together, making much more efficient use of the land. The greater the diversity of plants being grown together then the greater the overall growth of plant matter there is. Thus you can have tall growing trees with smaller trees and shrubs that can tolerate some shade growing under them. Climbing plants can make their own ways up the trees and shrubs towards the light, whilst shade-tolerant herbaceous plants and bulbs can grow on the woodland floor.

This leaflet is going to look at some of the many plants that can be grown as part of a woodland garden. A wide range of edible plants are discussed together with brief details of their cultivation needs. Although other details of the plants uses are not mentioned here, it should be realised that woodlands can also provide a wide range of non-food uses. The most obvious is their wood, of course, but they can also provide fibres for cloth and paper, oils, medicines and a whole host of other commodities.

Unless stated otherwise, the plants detailed below are fairly tolerant of most soil types so long as they are not water-logged. The larger trees and climbers will obviously be able to make their own way up into the sun, the smaller plants will grow well in the dappled shade of the trees unless the text says otherwise.

Trees and Shrubs.

Amelanchier alnifolia. The Juneberry is a small shrub, growing about 6ft tall and suckering to form a thicket. The fruit ripens in early July and looks somewhat like a blackcurrant. It is juicy and has a delicious flavour with a hint of apple in the taste. For best yields grow it on the sunny edge of the woodland. Birds absolutely adore this fruit so either grow lots so that there will be some for you, or put a net over the plants just before the fruit is ripe.

Araucaria araucana. The monkey puzzle is a large tree that has the potential of being the highest yielding nut crop that can be grown in Britain. A staple food of the native Indians in areas of Chile, the nuts are about the size of an almond and have a very pleasant mild flavour. The main problems with the tree are that it is very slow-growing (it takes about 40 years before it bears its first crop of seeds) and you need to grow both male and female plants in order to obtain the seed. Unfortunately there is no way of telling the sexes apart until they flower and so you need to grow at least 5 trees in order to be fairly sure that you have a mix of the sexes. When grown for its seed, this tree is not really suitable for small areas of land, but if you have the space then why not plant a grove of them to feed future generations? The trees are very wind- resistant and grow best in the wetter western half of the country.

Caragana arborescens. The Siberian pea tree is a very easily grown shrub or small tree. It demands a sunny position, so put it on the sunny edge of the woodland, and it is happier in the eastern half of the country where it prefers the drier conditions and the colder winters. The seed is about the size of a lentil and is usually freely borne. It is best cooked and can be used in all the ways that you normally use cooked beans.

Castanea sativa. Sweet chestnuts are large trees that prefer a well-drained slightly acid loam though they also grow very well in acid infertile sandy soils. Seeds are usually freely produced in Britain, though they are seldom as large as the seeds you can buy in shops. There are some named varieties such as "Marron de Lyon", though you will still not usually obtain quite the same standard of seed as those from shops. This is because the sweet chestnut is really a tree for continental climates and prefers areas with hotter summers than we normally experience in Britain. It is at its best in the south-eastern part of the country and should be given a sunny position.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia drupacea. The Japanese plum yew prefers light soils though it is not too fussy so long as you don't try and grow it on dry gravelly or chalky soils. It is a medium to large shrub, growing well in the shade of other trees and disliking full sun unless grown in less sunny areas of the country such as western Scotland. The fruit is about 3cm long and, when fully ripe is sweet and juicy. It contains a single large oily seed and this is also edible, though it often has a slight bitterness if eaten raw. There are male and female plants, the females produce prolific crops most years if there is one male for about every five females.

Cornus mas. The Cornelian cherry is a large shrub or small tree for the sunny edges of a woodland. The oval fruits are ready in late summer and early autumn, when fully ripe they have a pleasant rich flavour. Cornus kousa is a larger tree with fruits that look a bit like a strawberry. Whilst the skin is tough and bitter, the inside is soft and lush with a delicious sweet flavour. We find that the easiest way to eat it is to bite a small hole in the skin and then suck out the delectable flesh. The sub-species C. kousa chinensis is said to grow and fruit better in this country.

Corylus species. Our native hazel is a common large shrub of woodlands, succeeding in most soils and in full sun or light shade. The plants flower in early spring and, since the weather is so unpredictable at this time of year, there are years when the crop is extremely poor. If you want to grow the plant for its edible seeds then there are many named varieties available with larger seeds.

Crataegus species. Whilst I would not really recommend our native hawthorns for their fruits, there are a number of N. American and Asiatic species with very pleasant fruits. These are about the size of a large cherry and contain 5 seeds which usually stick together and are thus effectively like the seed of a cherry. The fruits range in colour from yellow to red and deep purple. In the tastiest species they are juicy and have a very rich flavour. My personal favourites include C. arnoldiana with a mealy texture, C. schraderiana which is so juicy that it almost melts in the mouth and C. tanacetifolia which is crisp and somewhat apple-like. Grow these small trees on the sunny edge of the woodland.

Elaeagnus x ebbingei. This is a plant that is commonly grown as a hedge in gardens where it forms an extremely wind- resistant screen 6ft or more high. Left to its own devices it grows about 15ft tall and wide. An extremely tolerant plant, it grows in full sun, deep shade and most soils - its only real dislike is waterlogged soils. The plant flowers in late autumn and ripens its fruit in April, long before the traditional early fruits such as strawberries and unripe gooseberries. When fully ripe these fruits have a delicious rich flavour, their single large seed can also be eaten and has a vague hint of peanut in its taste. This plant is an extremely good companion, helping to enrich the soil with nitrogen and thereby boosting the growth of neighbouring plants. It has been found, for example, that when planted in an orchard it can increase the yields of fruit treess such as plums and nuts by 10%. Not all forms of this plant fruit well, but we are in the process of developing reliable cultivars and believe that this plant has the potential to become a commercial crop in the future.

Juglans regia. The walnut is an extremely useful tall-growing tree with edible nuts and many non-food uses. It is rather antisocial in a woodland, however, since it secretes certain substances that inhibit the growth of other plants.Grow at least a couple of trees close to each other to help with fertilization, but do not grow lots of trees close together since this will depress or even prevent the growth of other plants around them. There are many named varieties available with larger fruits - you could try obtaining some of the Polish varieties that have recently become available since these are likely to do well in this country.

Malus sylvestris domestica. This is the cultivated apple. I do not intend to go into details of the common fruits in this leaflet, other than to say that apples make excellent small or large trees (depending on rootstock used) for the sunny side of woodland gardens.

Prunus species. This genus contains the cultivated plums and cherries, both excellent plants for a sunny position in a woodland garden.

Pyrus communis. Pears are another commonly cultivated fruit for sunny areas in the woodland.

Quercus ilex. The holm or holly oak is a large spreading but slow-growing evergreen tree. Very tolerant of maritime exposure, it will in time offer a high degree of shelter from the elements, though its dense shade will severely limit what can grow underneath it. The seed is rather smaller than our native acorns, but unlike them it is very often free of bitter tannins and can be eaten raw or cooked like sweet chestnuts. Trees usually fruit very well in this country. The sub- species Q. ilex ballota has been cultivated in southwestern Europe for its sweet-tasting seeds, though it is not such a reliable cropper in this country.

Ribes species. This genus includes the cultivated gooseberries and currants, all of which are excellent small shrubs for the sunny edges of a woodland or for light shade.

Rubus species. This includes the cultivated blackberries and raspberries, both of which are excellent woodland plants in sun or light shade. There are also a number of N. American species of raspberries, including R. deliciosus, R. leucodermis, R. occidentalis, R. parviflorus and R. spectabilis which also do very well in the woodland. They need a warm fairly sunny position if they are to fruit well. The flavour is very nice in a good summer, though in cooler summers the flavour does not develop fully. R. phoenicolasius, the Japanese wineberry, is a very ornamental raspberry from Asia. Its fruits are about half the size of cultivated raspberries but the have a lovely flavour and are virtually free of maggot damage since the developing fruit is enveloped in the calyx until just before it comes ripe.

Tilia x europaea. Our native lime trees have the nicest-tasting leaves that I have yet eaten from a tree. We use them as a major ingredient in salads, replacing lettuces which are so much hassle to grow. Only the young leaves should be used, though these can be produced from April right round to September from the sucker growth that is often found at the base of the trees. T. cordata and T. platyphyllos are our other natives and can also be used.

Climbing plants.

Apios americana. This is a herbaceous climbing plant with a delicious edible root that can be eaten raw but is best baked. Grow it on the sunny side of the woodland and either give it supports or let it climb into small shrubs. Yields of the wild species are fairly low, but new cultivars are being developed with much higher yields and this plant might become commercially cultivated in the future. One correspondant says that this plant has some "anti nutritional factors, such as trypsin inhibitors ... so it should be cooked before being eaten"

Humulus lupulus. Our native hop can climb to a height of 20 feet and succeeds in sun or semi-shade. The young shoots can be eaten in the spring, you harvest them when they are about 1 ft long and cook them like asparagus. The flavour is said to be unique and to many tastes delicious, I just find them unique. Female plants produce a cone-like seed head which is used as the bitter flavouring and preservative in beer. This seed head is also widely used as a medicinal herb, its sedative properties make it an ideal material to stuff pillows with since it aids restful sleep.

Lathyrus tuberosus. This low-growing herbaceous climber produces small black tubers that are absulutely delicious baked. Unfortunately the yields are rather low but since it can be grown along the woodland edge below other productive plants (and also helps to enrich the soil with nitrogen) then its harvest can be viewed as a very tasty bonus from the land.

Schisandra grandiflora rubriflora. This deciduous climber grows about 20ft tall and produces bunches of small red fruits looking somewhat like small loose bunches of grapes. The fruits are about a third of an inch in diameter and have a delicious sweet flavour. Grow it in semi-shade in a slightly acid soil, though it will succeed in slightly alkaline soils if lots of organic matter is added.

Vitis vinifera. Grapes are well enough known, so I will not give them much space here. If you live in the warmer parts of the country then you could try growing them along the sunny edge of the woodland.

Other perennial species.

Campanula persicifolia. This harebell (or bluebell if you live in Scotland) is a beautiful plant that produces a flowering stem about 3 ft tall in the summer. The flowers have a delicate sweet flavour and make a very attractive addition to the salad bowl. The mild-flavoured leaves can be harvested for about 9 months of the year and used in salads.

Cryptotaenia japonica. Japanese parsley is not really a parsley but the leaves taste vaguely like it if you use a considerable amount of imagination. All other parts of the plant can also be eaten, the seeds being used as a flavouring, the stem used as a celery substitute and the root eaten raw or coooked. The plant grows about 1½ feet tall and prefers a moist shady position under trees, where it will often self-sow. Keep it away from slugs, though, because they will decimate it.

Erythronium species. Dog's tooth violets are dainty low-growing woodland bulbs related to lilies. They flower in early spring and disappear completely by early summer. The bulbs can be eaten raw or cooked and have a nice sweet flavour. Any of the species can be used, we find that the cultivars "Pagoda" and "White Beauty" are easy to grow and increase freely.

Fagopyrum dibotrys. Perennial buckwheat is a very vigorous plant for light shade in the woodland. It can grow 2 metres tall and spreads freely when well placed. The leaves can be cooked and eaten like spinach, for which they make an acceptable though not inspiring substitute. The leaves, however, are a good source of rutin and this can have a very beneficial effect on the circulatory system - it is used in the treatment of arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure and rheumatism, for example.

Lilium species. Lilies are ideal plants for the woodland. Although it might seem a sacrilege, some lily species are cultivated for their edible bulbs (the growers actually prevent the plant from flowering so that it puts more energy into the bulb). If you ever find that you have too many of any particular species then you could always try eating a few bulbs. If you want to cultivate plants for their bulbs then I would recommend trying the tiger lily, L. lancifolium.

Montia sibirica. Miner's lettuce is an evergreen herbaceous plant that succeeds in deep shade as well as in the sunnier areas. A short-lived perennial, it usually self-sows freely and makes an excellent ground cover in the woodland. The leaves can be harvested for salads all the year round and the flowers can also be used.

Myrrhis odorata. Sweet Cicely has delicious aniseed-flavoured leaves that are available from late winter until early the next winter. This herbaceous perennial prefers moister soils and is a native plant that is well able to look after itself.

Rumex acetosa. We have a form of sorrel that virtually never flowers and produces its lemon-flavoured leaves all twelve months of the year. You cannot eat it in large quantities because it contains oxalic acid (which is what gives it the lemon flavour) and this can bind up certain of the nutrients in food, making them unavailable to the body. In moderate amounts, however, it is a very tasty and nutritious food. Grow it in the sunnier parts of the woodland.

Streptopus amplexifolius. Wild cucumber grows very well in the cool shade of a woodland where it can reach a height of 3 feet. Its fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and is juicy with a cucumber flavour. Do not eat it in large quantities at your first try since it can be laxative until your body gets used to it. The young shoots can be eaten raw in salads or cooked like asparagus and also have a cucumber-like flavour whilst the root is sometimes used in salads and, surprise surprise, also has a cucumber flavour. I wonder if this is why they call it the wild cucumber?

Urtica dioica. Stinging nettles are well enough known to anyone who has had a brush with them. Surprisingly few people, however, know that the leaves are edible when cooked, are highly nutritious and are also very tasty. Harvest the young shoot tips in spring and early summer - if you want to harvest them later in the year then cut down a patch to encourage fresh growth. Do not eat the older shoots since these can develop substances that are an irritant to the kidneys. Wear gloves when harvesting the leaves to avoid being stung - when cooked the leaves lose all of their ability to sting.

Viola odorata. Sweet violet is a low-growing carpeting plant that provides mild-flavoured edible leaves all the year round and deliciously sweet edible flowers throughout the winter. This plant has become quite a favourite salad of mine in the last year. A native plant, it is quite capable of looking after itself along the woodland edge.

Database

The database has more details on these plants: Actinidia deliciosa, Allium ursinum, Amelanchier alnifolia, Apios americana, Araucaria araucana, Campanula persicifolia, Caragana arborescens, Castanea sativa, Cephalotaxus harringtonia, Cephalotaxus harringtonia drupacea, Cornus kousa, Cornus mas, Cryptotaenia japonica, Elaeagnus x ebbingei, Fagopyrum dibotrys, Humulus lupulus, Juglans regia, Lathyrus tuberosus, Malus sylvestris, Myrrhis odorata, Pyrus communis, Quercus ilex, Rubus deliciosus, Rubus leucodermis, Rubus occidentalis, Rumex acetosa, Rumex occidentalis, Schisandra grandiflora, Schisandra grandiflora rubriflora, Streptopus amplexifolius, Tilia cordata, Tilia platyphyllos, Tilia x europaea, Urtica dioica, Viola odorata, Vitis vinifera.

Readers Comments

Cryptotaenia japonica

Chris Brown Fri, 14 May 1999 13:44:48

I recently obtained a Cryptotaenia japonica plant from a local plant sale (Eugene, Oregon); the grower said it was an edible, so that made it a very appealing addition to my garden. As it was not in any of my horticultural reference books, I decided to do an internet search to see what kind of conditons it would flourish in. To my surprise, the North Carolina State University declared it a poisonous plant!

I then discovered your page, which confirmed my original information, which lists it as an edible plant. I don't know which source is correct, yours or the University's, but I don't think I will be eating it anytime soon!

Woodland Garden Plants

Sun May 20 14:09:44 2001

i think jeeves is great but i want information and pictures that kids 10 and under could understand please help

Cryptotaenia japonica

Shani Sun Aug 26 21:55:18 2001

This is what the site has to say regarding edibility of this plant.

North Carolina State University website (link - http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Cryptja.htm )

Poisonous Part Leaves. Symptoms Severe skin irritation following repeated contact. Edibility EDIBLE PARTS: Cooked, starchy Oriental vegetable (root) or salad greens. Toxic Principle Unidentified. Severity TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN.

Ground cover plants.

Erik Johnson Sat Sep 29 05:04:44 2001

Unfortunately, USDA zones aren't useful except for perhaps determining maximum cold resistence (all they measure are miniumum temps). Britain is smack dab in front of the Gulf Stream, so has warm winters. However it is very far north, so has long winters and cool summers. USDA zones 8 and 9 in the US are perhaps equivalent to Europe in the maritime Pacific Northwest and northern California, but not in the Southeast US.

270 frost free days leaves about 95 with frost. # Frost-free days is somewhat useful for annuals but little else. Temperate perennials/trees need winter chilling (hours between 32 and 45 Fahrenheit). I guarrantee that NW FL (USDA zone 8) does not have 95 days of potential frost (& presumptively "chill"). It usually has only 400 (or less) chilling hours, and only about 3-7 days (nights?) of frost. Temps get down to low 20s F (in some cases 15 F), but these killing frosts occur unpredictably, scattered amoungst 60/70 Fahrenheit days from late December to late February. W. European weather is probably more regular. Spain and Italy can raise both subtropical crops (citrus, banana passionfruit)--lack of killing frosts--and European plums/apples/hazels/etc--prolonged winter chill. Neither group is reliable in the Deep South of the US; indeed, native species (mayhaw, rabbiteye blueberry, scuppernong) and a small number of exotics from Asia (kaki) and Uruguay (feijoa, jelly palm) are the only ones to thrive. And if the Limeys saw wild scuppernongs--120+ ft woody lianas with aerial roots (Bartram's "flying buttresses of the live oak forest"), I don't think they'd recommend planting vines, let alone grapes, at "woodland edges." Kinda hard to harvest and control.

I have a hard time taking gardening advice/books from Europe and West Coast USA seriously. Unfortunately most authors come from such areas, so the rest of us waste alot of money planting things and watching them die, in order to find the tiny percentage that work. Some of the species that "work" become weeds--witness Kudzu, which swallowed Georgia after FDR's bureaucrats decided it would be good for errosion control.

Anyone have scuppernong (Vitis rotundifolia) recipes?

Woodland Garden Plants

jrb Thu Jan 30 19:03:22 2003

Found this page interesting. Have in the past tried a number of wild edible plants. Now find myself with a large thin soiled rocky garden which is mainly shaded by copper beech trees. Any suggestions on things to plant in such conditions appreciated. jrb.

Woodland Garden Plants

beatrice bowles Fri Apr 16 21:11:26 2004

I'm very curious about "Bowles" species plants, and collect them from carfex to phomis and crocus. Any suggestions, maybe even old roses? Gratefully,

Beatrice Bowles

Link: harmony hill garden stories

Woodland Garden Plants

chip adams Sun Sep 4 2005

I enjoyed looking at all the variety of possible plants but I have know idea where to get any.I am in north ga. and most peole just plant pine for wood

Woodland Garden Plants

George McKay Thu Sep 22 2005

The RHS Dictionary of Gardening says Cryptotaenia japonica is cultivated in Japan as a salad crop and for it's edible roots which are fried.

Woodland Garden Plants

dreibelbis1@yahoo.com Sun Jan 1 2006

An interesting tidbit about gaultheria procumbens. Here in central PA, we call them teaberries, and always enjoy chewing the refreshing berries while in the woods. A local old time dentist, Dr. Hummer. now long deceased, told me a story about traveling to local schools during the depression,providing dental check-ups.He noted that kids that lived around the barrens here had a remarkable absence of cavities and he noted fresh sweet breath. On questioning the kids, he said that most walked through the woods on the way to and from school and nibbled teaberries,and their leaves and twigs along their way Has anyone else heard of this phenomenon,or could it be mere coincidence?

Woodland Garden Plants

Nancy Bazemore Fri Jan 6 2006

I am trying to purchase scuppernong plants. Having no trouble findingt muscadine plants, but scuppernong grapes are whitish, and have a better flavor. Please help

Woodland Garden Plants

Mon Mar 6 2006

Do you know about woodland edibles that can be grown in northern california. i would like to start a woodland garden on some land in the mountains of northern california. the climate is very hot in summer and snow in winter. temperate in spring and fall. dry from spring till fall, about 6 months. thanks for your wonderful website!!!

Woodland Garden Plants

Raewyn Yee Sat Nov 18 2006

Does anyone know of a good supplier of woodland garden plants in the UK preferably around West or SW London

Woodland Garden Plants

Ajna Fern. Plants For A Future. Mon Nov 20 2006

A comprehensive listing of plants and british nurserys can be found at http://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/index.asp

Woodland Garden Plants

Wed Dec 6 2006

does anyone know which trees can create a good bedrock for other plants in unfertile areas in southern africa?

Woodland Garden Plants

Elyse Fri Feb 23 2007

Very interested in creating a woodland garden in Western Wisconsin. If any can point me to a site more suited to this area, please be so kind as to share. Thanks!

Woodland Garden Plants

Cheri Wed Apr 25 2007

had a hard time finding mayapple on the internet...maybe not so savy about how to do it...but found Your site! Thank you!I guess it isn't mayapple in my backyard. Dang.oh well guess I need to take a pic and show it around. Maybe ask my local Master Gardener... Thanks, Cheri

Woodland Garden Plants

Jurek Ambroszczyk Sun Aug 26 2007

We're going to start a forest - or woodland - garden in central Poland and we've been using the database of this site to pick some species, due to limited access to reliable information in our country. Something tells me, though, that we will have to learn by making lots of mistakes before finding out which of the plants can survive in our sandy, poor soils with frosts getting to -30 Celsius.

Woodland Garden Plants

natschultz Fri Nov 2 2007

To find plants suitable to other areas (colder, warmer) just look up the botanical (Latin) Family name and very often there are many different species in that family that are suitable to very different climates. For example, all oaks are in the Quercus family, but different species grow in different climates. Same with Tillia, although they are all pretty much temperate zone (Tillia's common names vary - Lime Tree in England, Linden tree on continental Europe and some parts of the USA, and it is also known as Basswood in many parts of the USA); they are all the same tree though, just that there are a few different species. The European native has larger leaves than the American one which is known as Littleleaf Linden or Greenspire in common parlance. Most plant families have a cold weather species; the Lingonberry is a great small shrub in the far North that is similar (but better than) a cranberry (popular in Scandinavia and Russia). It also grows in the Northern USA and Canada.

Woodland Garden Plants

Marko Mon Apr 7 2008

How about Black Elder? We use that here in Eastern Europe as a food; elder blossoms are put into dough and fried. A very healthy dish! Also jam can be made from berries. It's also very useful in herbal medicine. Look it up!

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