Types of Fruit-Bearing Bushes

If you want to double-up on the functionality of your landscape plants, consider fruit-bearing bushes. Most of these shrubs produce not only edible fruits but profusions of showy blooms. Berries might come to mind when you think of fruit-bearing shrubs, but several stone fruits and others also grow on shrubs, providing a bounty of fruit in a smaller space than more common fruit trees.

Choose from the common nursery selections of blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), which grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7, and raspberries (Rubus spp.), which grow in USDA zones 2 through 7, or shoot for more unusual choices. Raspberries grow native throughout much of the country so some people consider them weeds. Both blueberries and raspberries, however, can serve multiple uses, including as a natural screen or hedge.

Although most fruit-producing plants thrive in well-drained, fertile loam, blueberries are among the plants that grow best in acidic soils. Gardeners may have to amend the site heavily to create a soil pH between 4 and 5.

Planting native plants whenever possible is a solid plan for a conscious gardener. Not only do these plants thrive in your region, they also serve as food and cover for wildlife. Serviceberries (Amelanchier spp.) and elderberries (Sambucus spp.) are just two examples of native berry selections with numerous cultivars.

Alder-leaved serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia 'Regent') reaches 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, making it an ideal compact serviceberry for a home landscape. It grows in USDA zones 2 through 7 as a deciduous shrub. Dark, purple-black berries appear in early summer after showy white flowers. Eat them off the shrub or use them for jams or pies. This cultivar produces many root suckers; remove the suckers when they are small by pinching or pulling with your hands. Not removing suckers leads to a very shrubby and thick growth habit.

Common elderberry (Sambucus nigra canadensis), which grows in USDA zones 3 through 12, produces dark, purple-black fruit. Although berry is in the name, the fruit is actually a drupe, or stone fruit. These shrubs typically grow to less than 10 feet tall but can reach 30 feet. The fruit is suitable for jams, pies and wine; wildlife favors the shrub as a food source. Common elderberry suckers and, when left to naturalize, can create a thicket or natural screen.

All parts of the elderberry are toxic to humans, including raw fruit. You must cook its fruit before ingesting.

Chickasaw plum (Prunus angustifolia), native to the South, grows in USDA zones 5 through 9. Showy white flowers cover these large shrubs in March and are followed by small, cherry-like plums that vary from red to yellow. These plums taste tart, so consider them for jellies and jams instead of fresh eating. According to Missouri Botanical Garden, American Indians frequently consumed these fruits and dried them for winter.

More common fruits also come in shrub form for the home landscape. For an even wider selection, consider dwarf fruit trees, which grow to about 10 feet tall at maturity

Nanking cherry (Prunus tomentosa) grows in USDA zones 3 through 7. This ornamental shrub grows 6 to 10 feet tall and up to 15 feet wide. Fragrant white flowers cover the shrub in early spring as temperatures begin warming up. In addition to the fragrant, showy flowers, Nanking cherry features a reddish-brown bark that adds additional interest. Tangy cherries follow the flowers and are suitable for fresh eating, baked goods and jellies.

Pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana) offers homeowners a tropical treat when the fruit matures. The minty-pineapple flavor of the fruit brings a change of pace for taste buds. These evergreens can reach 20 feet tall -- or more -- and can be trained as a single-trunk tree. As a tropical plant, pineapple guava grows in USDA zones 8 through 10. These large shrubs don't require fertilizer and handle heavy pruning and shaping. Bonus: The flower petals are sweet and fleshy -- ideal for salads or raw eating.