Forest Gardenings top 100 species.
LARGE TREES
Sugar Maple - Acer Saccharum *
Hardiness zone 3, sun to shade, standard (single trunk) tree, 75-100 ft x 75-100 ft., edible sap for syrup
Hickories and Northern Pecan
(Carya SPP.)
Northern Pecan - Carya illinoinensis*
Hardiness zone 6, full sun, standard ( single trunk) tree, 75-120 ft. x 75-120 ft., edible nuts
Shellbark Hickory - Carya laciniosa*
Hardiness zone 6, full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 70-85ft. x 30-50ft., edible nuts
Shagbark Hickory - Carya ovata*
Hardiness zone 4, full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 70-85 ft. x 30-50ft., edible nuts
Walnuts (Juglans SPP.)
Heartnut - Juglans ailantifolia var. cordifolia*
Hardiness zone 5, full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 60 ft. x 60 ft., edible nuts
Butternut - Juglans cinerea*
Hardiness zone 3, full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 50-75 ft. x 50-75 ft., edible nuts
Black Walnut - Juglans nigra*
Hardiness zone 4, full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 75-100ft. x 75-100 ft., edible nuts, dynamic accumulator
Carpathian Walnut - Juglans regia*
Hardiness zone 5, full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 100ft. x 75-100ft., edible nuts
Korean Nut Pine - Pinus koraiensis*
Hardiness zone 3 or 4, full sun, evergreen standard (single trunk) tree, 30-100 ft. x 15x 50ft., edible nuts
Edible Acorn Oaks (Quercus SPP.)
Swamp White Oak - Quercus bicolor*
Hardiness zone 6, full sun, standard (single trunk)tree, 75-100ft. x 75 -100 ft., edible nuts
Holm Oak - Quercus ilex*
Hardiness zone 7, full sun, standard ( single trunk) tree, 75 ft. x 75 ft., edible nuts
Bur Oak - Quercus macrocarpa*
Hardiness zone 2, full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 75-100ft. x 75-100ft., edible nut
Schuette's Oak - Quercus x schuettei*
Hardiness zone 4b, full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 70ft. x 70ft., edible nuts
(Other Oak leaves. Acorns maybe not so edible?)
MEDIUM TREES
Alders (Alnus SPP.)
Italian Alder - Alnus cordata*
Hardiness zone 5, full sun to part shade, standard ( single trunk) tree, 30-50 ft. x 20-35 ft., fixes nitrogen
Grey Alder - Alnus incana*
Hardiness zone 2, full sun to part shade, standard (single trunk) tree, 40-60 ft. x 25-40 ft., fixes nitrogen
Speckled Alder - Alnus rugosa*
Hardiness zone 2-6, full sun to part shade, multistemmed shrub, 20-35 ft. x 20-35 ft., fixes nitrogen
Smooth Alder - Alnus serrulata*
Hardiness zone 5-8, full sun to part shade, multistemmed shrub, 12-20 ft. x 12-20 ft., fixes nitrogen
Pawpaw - Asimina triloba*
Hardiness zone 5b, full sun to part shade, suckering tree, 20-35 ft. x 20 - 35 ft., edible fruit
Chinese Chestnut - Castanea mollissima*
Hardiness zone 5, full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 25-35 ft. x 25 - 35 ft., edible nuts
Persimmons - (Diospyros spp.)
Asian Persimmon - Diospyros kaki*
Hardiness zone 7 (some to 6), full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 25-40 ft. x 25-40ft., edible fruit
American Persimmon - Diospyros virginiana*
Hardiness zone 5, full sun, suckering tree, 50-75 ft. x 50-75 ft., edible fruit
Hybrid Persimmon*
Hardiness zone 5 or 6, full sun, may sucker, height variable, edible fruit
(Another Native American Persimmon)
Mulberries (Morus spp.)
Hardiness zone 5, full sun to part shade, standard (single trunk) tree, 30-50 ft. x 30-50ft., edible fruit
Native plums (Pyrus spp.)
American Plum - Prunus americana*
Hardiness zone 3, full sun, suckering tree, 20-35 ft. x 20-35 ft., edible fruit
Canada Plum - Prunus americana var. nigra*
Hardiness zone 3, full sun, suckering tree, 6-20 ft. x 6-20 ft., edible fruit
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Chickasaw Plum - Prunus angustifolia*
Hardiness zone 5, full sun, thicket-forming shrub, 8-10 ft. x 8-10 ft., edible fruit
Hog Plum - prunus hortulana*
Hardiness zone 5, full sun, suckering tree, 12-30 ft. x 12-30 ft., edible fruit
Beach Plum - Prunus maritima*
Hardiness zone 3, full sun, multistemmed shrub, 8-12 ft. x 8-12 ft., edible fruit
Wild Goose Plum - Prunus munsoniana*
Hardiness zone 5, full sun, clumping thicket former, suckering shrub, 10 ft. x 10 ft., edible fruit
Pear (Pyrus spp.)
Asian Pear - Pyrus bretschneideris*
Hardiness zone 4, full sun, standard ( single trunk) tree, 25-30 ft. x 25 ft., edible fruit
European Pear - Pyrus communis*
Hardiness zone 3 or 4, full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 8-40ft. x 10-25ft. (depending on root stock), edible fruit
WOODY VINES
Hardy Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.)
Hardy Kiwi - Actinidia arguta*
Hardiness zone 4, full sun, climber, 20-100 ft., edible fruit
Super-Hardy Kiwifruit - Arctinidia kolomikta*
Hardiness zone 3, full sun, climber, 20-100 ft., edible fruit
Purple Hardy Kiwifruit - Arctinidia purpurea*
Hardiness zone 4, full sun, climber, 20-100 ft., edible fruit
Native Grapes (Vitis spp.)
Fox Grape - Vitis labrusca*
Hardiness zone 3-9, full sun, woody, 35+ ft., edible fruit
Muscadine Grape - Vitis rotundifolia*
Hardiness zone 7-9, full sun, woody vine, 12-20ft., edible fruit
SHRUBS (SMALL TO LARGE)
Saskatoon & Juneberries (Amelanchier spp.)
Saskatoon - Amelanchier alnifolia*
Hardiness zone 2, full sun, multistemmed shrub, 5-15 ft. x 5-15 ft., edible fruit
Allegheny Shadbush - Amelanchier lamarkii*
Hardiness zone 4-8, full sun, standard (single trunk) tree, 12-30 ft. x 12-35 ft., edible fruit
Running Juneberry - Amelanchier stolonifera*
Hardiness zone 4, full sun, running thicket former shrub, 4-6 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible fruit
Edible Shoot Bamboos (Arundinaria, Phyllostachys, Sasa, and Semiarundinaria spp.)
Canebrake Bamboo - Arundinaria gigantea*
Hardiness zone 6, full sun to part shade, evergreen running bamboo, 10-20ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible shoots
Dwarf Canebrake Bamboo - Arundinaria gigantea tecta*
Hardiness zone 6, full sun to part shade, evergreen running bamboo, 6 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible shoots
Sweetshoot Bamboo - Phyllostachys dulcis*
Hardiness zone 7, full sun to part shade, evergreen running bamboo, 20-40 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible shoots
Stone Bamboo - Phyllostachys nuda*
Hardiness zone 6, full sun to part shade, evergreen running bamboo, 20-35 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible shoots
Blue-green Glaucous Bamboo - Phyllostachys viridi-glaucescens*
Hardiness zone 6b, full sun to part shade, evergreen running bamboo, 20-35 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible shoots
Chishima-zasa Bamboo - Sasa kurilensis*
Hardiness zone7, full sun to part shade, evergreen running bamboo, 10 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible shoots
Temple Bamboo - Semiarundinaria fastuosa*
Hardiness zone 6b, full sun to part shade, evergreen running bamboo, 20-35 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible shoots
Siberian Pea Shrub - Caragana Arborescens*
Hardiness zone 2-7, sun, multistemmed shrub, 8-20 ft. x 12-18 ft., fixes nitrogen
Chinquapin - Castanea pumila*
Hardiness zone 5b, full sun, multistemmed shrub, 6-20 ft. x 6-20ft., edible nuts
Hybrid hazel - Corylus spp.*
Hardiness zone 3, full sun, clumping thicket former shrub, 12-20 ft.x 12-15 ft., edible nuts
Goumi - Eleagnus multiflora*
Hardiness zone 5-8, full sun to part shade, multistemmed shrub, 6-8 ft. x 6-8 ft., edible fruit, fixes nitrogen
Bush Cherries (Prunus spp.)
Mongolian Bush Cherry - Prunus fruticosa*
Hardiness zone 2, full sun, multistemmed shrub, 3ft. x 3ft., edible fruit
Japanese Bush Cherry - Prunus japonica*
Hardiness zone 4, full sun, clumping thicket former shrub, 8ft. x 8ft., edible fruit
Dwarf Bush Cherry Hybrids - Prunus japonica x jacquemontii*
Hardiness zone 3-8, full sun, multistemmed shrub, 3-4ft.x 3-4 ft.,edible fruit
Nanking Cherry - Prunus tomentosa*
Hardiness zone 3, full sun, multistemmed shrub, 6-10 ft. x 6-8 ft., edible fruit
Gooseberry, Jostaberry, and Currant (Ribes spp.)
Jostaberry - Ribes x culverwellii
Hardiness zone 3-7, full sun to part shade, multistemmed shrub, 4-8 ft.x 4-8 ft., edible fruit
Black Currant - Ribes nigrum
Hardiness zone 4-7, full sun to part shade, multistemmed shrub, 3-5 ft. x 3-5 ft., edible fruit
Clove Currant - Ribes odoratum
Hardiness zone 3b-7, full sun to part shade, multistemmed, 6-12 ft. x 6-12 ft., edible fruit
Red and White Currant - Ribes silvestre
Hardiness zone 2-7, full sun to part shade, multistemmed shrub, 3-5 ft. x 3-5ft., edible fruit
Gooseberry - Ribes uva-crispa
Hardiness zone 3-7, full sun to part shade, clumping thicket former shrub, 3-5 ft.x 3-5 ft., edible fruit
Brambles - Rubus spp.
Red Raspberry - Rubus idaeus
Hardiness zone 3-9, full sun, running thicket former shrub, 4-6 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible fruit
Black Raspberry - Rubus occidentalis
Hardiness zone 4, full sun, running thicket former shrub, 3-6 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible fruit
Elderberry - Sambucus canadensis
Hardiness zone 3-10, full sun to part shade, multistemmed shrub,
6-12 ft. x 6-12 ft., edible fruit, tea plant, specialist nectary
Highbush Blueberry and Rabbiteye Blueberry (vaccinium spp.)
Rabbiteye Blueberry - Vaccinium ashei
Hardiness zone 7-9, full sun, multistemmed shrub, 4-18ft.x 4-18ft., edible fruit
Highbush Blueberry- Vaccinium corymbosum
Hardiness zone 4-7, full sun, multistemmed shrub, 6-12 ft. x 6-12 ft., edible fruit
LOW SHRUBS
(UNDER 18 INCHES/45 CM)
Woody Legume Ground Covers ( Cytisus, Genista, and Indigofera spp.)
Prostrate Broom - Cytisus decumbens
Hardiness zone 6-8, full sun, clumping mat former shrub, 8in. x 3+ ft., ground cover, fixes nitrogen
Silky-Leaf Woodwaxen - Genista pilosa
Hardiness zone 6-8, full sun to part shade, multistemmed shrub, 1 ft. x 3-4 ft., ground cover, fixes nitrogen
Trailing Silky-Leaf Woodwaxen - Genista pilosa procumbens
Hardiness zone 6-8, full sun to part shade, clumping mat former shrub, 2 in. x 4 ft., ground cover fixes nitrogen
Arrow broom - Genista sagittalis
Hardiness zone 3-8, full sun to part shade, clumping mat former shrub, 3-18 in.x 2-3 ft., ground cover, fixes nitrogen
Chinese Indigo - Indigofera decora
Hardiness zone 5, full sun, multistemmed shrub, 18 in. x 6-8 ft., ground cover, fixes nitrogen
Lowbush Blueberry and Other Low Ericads ( Gaultheria and Vaccinium spp.)
Wintergreen - Gaultheria procumbens
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, evergreen running mat former, 2-6 in. x indefinitely spreading, edible fruit, edible tea, ground cover
Lowbush Blueberry - Vaccinium angustifolium
Hardiness zone 2, full sun, clumping thicket former 2 ft. x 3+ft., edible fruit, ground cover
Creeping Blueberry - Vaccinium crassifolium
Hardiness zone 6, full sun to part shade, evergreen clumping mat former shrub, 2-6 in. x 5+ ft., edible fruit, ground cover
Lingonberry - Vaccinium vitis-idaea
Hardiness zone 4, full sun, evergreen multistemmed shrub, 6-12 in. x 2 ft., edible fruit, ground cover
HERBACEOUS VINES
Groundnut - Apios americana
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, sprawler, to 6 ft., edible tubers, fixes nitrogen
Jinenjo Yam - Dioscorea japonica
Hardiness zone 4-10, full sun to part shade, sprawler, to 10 ft., edible roots, edible shoots
Maypop - Passiflora incarnata
Hardiness zone 6-10, full sun, suckering sprawler, 10-30 ft., edible fruit
CLUMPING HERBS
(ABOVE 6 INCHES/15 CM)
Mint Relatives ( Agastache, Melissa, Monarda, and Pycnanthemum)
Anise Hyssop - Agastache foeniculum
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, clumping herb, 2-4 ft. x 1-2 ft., tea
Lemon Balm - Melissa officinalis
Hardiness zone 5, full sun to part shade, clumping herb, 1-3ft. x 1-3 ft., tea
Bee Balm - Monarda didyma
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, running herb, 3-4ft. x 2-4 ft., tea
Mountain Mint - Pycnanthemum spp.
Hardiness zone 5, full sun to part shade, running herb, 1-3 ft. x indefinitely spreading, tea, ground cover
Perennial Onions ( Allium spp.)
Multiplier Onion - Allium cepa aggregatum
Hardiness zone 5, full sun, clumping, 2 ft. x 1ft., edible bulb, aromatic pest confuser
Egyptian Walking Onion - Allium cepa proliferum
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, running, 2ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible greens and top bulbs, aromatic pest confuser
Nodding Wild Onion - Allium cernuum
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, running, 1-2 ft. x 1-2 ft.,
culinary, aromatic pest confuser
Welsh Onion - Allium fistulosum
Hardiness zone 4, full sun, clumping, 2-3 ft. x 1-2 ft.
Chives - Allium schoenoprasum
Hardiness zone 5, full sun to part shade, clumping, 6-20 in. x 6-20 in., culinary, dynamic accumulator, aromatic pest confuser
Garlic Chives - Allium Tuberosum
Hardiness zone 3, full sun, clumping, 18in. x 12 in., culinary, aromatic pest confuser
Ramps - Allium tricoccum
Hardiness zone 4, part to full shade, clumping, 1ft. x 1ft., edible greens and bulbs, aromatic pest confuser
Asparagus - Asparagus officinalis
Hardiness zone 3, full sun, clumping, 3-5 ft. x 18-36 in., edible shoots
Milkvetch - Astragalus glycyphyllos
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, clumping, 6-12 in. x 4-5 ft., fixes nitrogen
Wild Indigo (Baptisia spp.)
Blue Wild Indigo - Baptisia australis
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, clumping, 2-4 ft. x 3-5 ft., fixes nitrogen
Yellow Wild Indigo - Baptisia tinctoria
Good King Henry - Chenopodium bonus-henricus
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, clumping, 1-3 ft.x 12-18 in., edible leaves, shoots, buds, and seeds
Chicory & Dandelion
Chicory - Cichorium intybus
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, clumping, 1-4 ft. x 1-2 ft., edible leaves, dynamic accumulator
Dandelion - Taraxacum officinale
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, clumping, 6-24 in. x 6-24 in., edible leaves and flowers, dynamic accumulator
Sea Kale - Crambe maritima
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, clumping, 2-3 ft. x 3ft., edible broccoli leaves and shoots
Lovage - Levisticum officinale
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, clumping, 4-8 ft. x 4-8 ft., edible leaves and stalks
Sweet Cicely - Myrrhis odorata
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, clumping, 3 ft. x 3 ft., edible leaves and seeds
Rhubarb - Rheum spp.
Himalayan Rhubarb - Rheum australe
Hardiness zone 6-9, full sun, clumping, 5-8 ft.x 5 ft., edible leaf-stalks
Rhubarb - Rheum x cultorum
Hardiness zone 1, full sun, clumping, 3-5 ft. x 3-5 ft., edible leaf stalks
Turkey Rhubarb - Rheum palmatum
Hardiness zone 6-9, full sun, clumping, 5-8 ft. x 5ft., edible leaf stalks
Sorrels ( Oxyria andRumex spp.)
Mountain Sorrel - Oxyria digyna
Hardiness zone 2, full sun to part shade, clumping, 2-12 in.x 12in., edible leaves
French Sorrel - Rumex acetosa
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, clumping, 1-3 ft. x 1 ft., edible leaves, dynamic accumulator
Buckler-Leaved Sorrel - Rumex scutatus
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, clumping, 1 ft. x 1-2 ft., edible leaves, dynamic accumulator, ground cover
Scorzonera, Oyster Plant - Scorzonera hispanica
Hardiness zone 4-9, full sun to part shade, clumping, 1-3 ft. x 1-2 ft., edible roots and leaves, specialist nectary
Skirret - Sium Sisarum (my favorite)
Hardiness zone 5-9, full sun to part shade, clumping, 3ft. x 1-2 ft., edible roots, specialist nectary
Sweet Goldenrod - Solidago odora
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, clumping, 2-4 ft. x 2-4 ft., edible tea, specialist nectary
Comfreys (Symphytum spp.)
Large-flowered Comfrey - Symphytum grandiflorum
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, clumping, 8-12 in. x 18 in., dynamic accumulator, ground cover, beneficial habitat
Russian Comfrey - Symphytum x uplandicum
Hardiness zone 6, full sun to part shade, clumping, 1-4ft. x 3ft., dynamic accumulator, beneficial habitat
RUNNING HERBS
(ABOVE 6 INCHES/15 CM)
Yarrow - Achillea millefolium
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, running, 8-36 in. x indefinitely spreading, ground cover, dynamic accumulator, beneficial habitat, specialist nectary
Pink Tickseed - Coreopsis rosea
Hardiness zone 3-9, full sun, running, 1-2 ft. x indefinitely spreading, ground cover, specialist nectary
Jerusalem Artichoke - Helianthus tuberosus
Hardiness zone 2, full sun to part shade, running, 6-12 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible roots
Daylily - Hemerocallis spp.
Hardiness zone 2 or 3, full sun to part shade, running, 1-5 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible flowers, buds, and tubers
Ostrich Fern - Matteuccia struthiopteris
Hardiness zone 2, part to full shade, running, 4-6ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible shoots
Mints - Mentha spp.
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, running, 1-3 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible tea, culinary, aromatic
Giant Solomon's Seal - Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, running, 3-5 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible shoots
Chinese Artichoke - Stachys affinis
Hardiness zone 5, full sun to part shade, running, 18 in. x indefinitely spreading, edible tubers
Nettles (Laportaea and Urtica spp.)
Wood Nettle - Laportaea canadensis
Hardiness zone 3, part to full shade, running, 1-3 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible leaves
Stinging Nettle - Urtica dioica
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, running, 3-4 ft. x indefinitely spreading, edible leaves, dynamic accumulator
PROSTRATE HERBS
Wild Ginger (Asarum spp.)
Wild Ginger - Asarum canadense
Hardiness zone 3, part to full shade, running mat former, 4-8 in.x indefinitely spreading, ground cover, edible root
Shuttleworth's Wild Ginger - Asarum shuttleworthii
Hardiness zone 6, part to full shade, evergreen clumping mat former, 4-8 in. x 14 in., ground cover
Green and Gold - chrysogonum virginianum
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, evergreen clumping mat former, 3-6 in. x 18 in., specialist nectary, ground cover
Strawberries (Fragaria spp.)
Garden Strawberry - Fragaria x ananassa
Hardiness zone 3, full sun, evergreen running, 6-12 in. x indefinitely spreading, edible fruit, ground cover
Beach Strawberry - Fragaria chiloensis
Hardiness zone 7, full sun, evergreen running, 6 in.x indefinitely spreading, edible fruit, ground cover
Musk Strawberry - Fragaria Moschata
Hardiness zone 5, full sun to part shade, evergreen running, 6-12 in.x indefinitely spreading, edible fruit, ground cover
Alpine Strawberry - Fragaria vesca alpina
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, evergreen clumping, 10 in.x 10 in., edible fruit,
Wild Strawberry - Fragaria virginiana
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, evergreen running, 4-12 in.x indefinitely spreading, edible fruit, ground cover
Galax - Galax urceolata
Hardiness zone 4, part to full shade, evergreen running, 6-12 in. x indefinitely spreading, ground cover
Miner's Lettuce (Montia spp.)
Miner's lettuce - Montia perfoliata
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, clumping, self seeds, 6-12 in. x 6-12 in., edible leaves, ground cover
Siberian Miner's Lettuce - Montia siberica
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, clumping, self seeds, 8-12 in. x 8-12 in., edible leaves, ground cover
Violets (Viola spp.)
Canada Violet - Viola canadensis
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, running, 6-16 in. x indefinitely spreading, edible leaves and flowers
Labrador Violet - Viola labridorica
Hardiness zone 3, full sun to part shade, evergreen running, 4in. x indefinitely spreading, edible leaves and flowers
Sweet Violet - Viola odorata
Hardiness zone 4, full sun to part shade, evergreen running, 6-8 in. x indefinitely spreading, edible leaves and flowers
Barren Strawberry - Waldsteinia fragariodes
Hardiness zone 4-7, full sun to part shade, evergreen running, 4-8 in. x indefinitely spreading, ground cover
FUNGI
Shiitake - Lentinula edodes
Oyster Mushroom - Pleurotus ostreatus
Chicken-of-the-Woods - Polyporus sulphureus
King Stropharia - Stropharia rugoso-annulata
