Tag Archives: edible fruit

Low-Allergen Shrubs (Less than 4 on the OPALS Scale)

Chaenomeles x superba ‘Pink Lady’ (syn. C. speciosa ‘Pink Lady’) – A thornless cultivar of Flowering Quince with clear pink flowers emerging from March to May. This deciduous shrub has small glossy green leaves and is best trained espalier-style on … Continue reading

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Flowering Crabapples / Malus

Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’ – This cross of Malus baccata and Malus prunifolia has been around since the 1950′s and features fragrant white single blooms emerging from rose-pink buds. It is an RHS Award of Garden Merit winner with … Continue reading

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Fragrant Houseplants

Citrus limon ‘Meyer’ (syn. Citrus x meyeri) – A compact hybrid lemon (possibly crossed with mandarin) that bears up to 2″ wide fragrant white blooms emerging from purple-tinted buds. It is self-fertile and produces edible rounded lemons that are thin … Continue reading

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Edible Berries of Coastal BC

Gaultheria shallon – Salal is often used as a groundcover due to its up to 4″ long glossy evergreen leaves. Tolerating deep shade to sun, the height is rather variable (I have literally walked through Salal tunnels) but averages 4′ … Continue reading

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Variegated Vines

Ampelopsis brevipedunculata ‘Elegans’ – A self-clinging deciduous vine with highly attractive deep green leaves, heavily mottled with white and pink (especially new growth). This variegated form of Porcelain Vine prefers part to full sun and also features contrasting rose-pink petioles. … Continue reading

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Native Australian Desert Plants

Eucalyptus camaldulensis (syn. ‘Itara’) The River Red Gum is named for its striking reddish-orange wood which is used to make furniture. This widespread species is commonly found around inland water sources. It is a large tree (grows to 90′+) with … Continue reading

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Ornamental Edible Plants

Beta vulgaris var. cicla ‘Bright Lights’ – A colourful selection of Swiss Chard which looks as good in the garden as it does on the plate – featuring stems of red, yellow, orange, pink and white. This colour often extends … Continue reading

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Shrubs with Fall Colour

Aronia melanocarpa ‘Autumn Magic’ – A much underused deciduous shrub native to eastern North America – Black Chokeberry has something for every season. The glossy dark green foliage (grows to 5′ tall) is smothered by white blooms in late spring, … Continue reading

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Unusual Fruits

Mespilus germanica – Medlar is a small deciduous tree (to 20′ tall) with 2″ wide white to pale pink blooms in late spring. These are followed by spherical brown fruits (up to 2″ across) that are not ready for eating … Continue reading

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Dogwood Trees / Cornus

Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ – Probably the most popular dogwood tree to date, much in part to its multiple seasons of appeal and good disease resistance. It begins in late spring to early summer with abundant salmon-pink blooms presented in horizontal … Continue reading

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