Edible landscaping in fall is a wonderful way to blend ornamental beauty with useful, food-bearing plants. Instead of relegating your edible crops to a specific area, edible landscaping integrates them into the garden. This creates a landscape that is both beautiful and productive. 

Plants like fruit trees, berry bushes, and nut trees often bear fruit in the fall. They can transform the fading garden into a living pantry, adding aesthetic appeal to the landscape. 

Beyond its aesthetic value, fall edible landscaping is a sustainable and rewarding practice. It makes excellent use of space, supporting wildlife while also feeding the human inhabitants. Many edible plants are perennial, so they continue to produce year after year.

Edible gardening creates a sense of connection to the seasonal cycles. Anticipating the ripening of different foods at different times can make the garden a wonderful place. It creates a functional space that feeds people and nurtures the ecosystem, in addition to adding beauty. 

In the fall, the availability of many food crops becomes scarce. Some cool-season crops will thrive, but it’s nice to have fruit-bearing plants that provide during this time of year. There are many fruit trees and shrubs, as well as nuts, that are prime for harvesting in the fall. 

Fruit Trees

Fall is an important season for fruit trees. It’s a time for maintenance, as well as a fruiting time for many of our favorite trees. Harvest time varies for these trees, with a range that spans from September to November. Climate plays a significant role, with cooler climates ripening earlier. 

Fall is also a great time to plant fruit trees. The combination of warm soil and cool air encourages ample root development, without the stress of summer heat. Many of them also display stunning fall foliage, adding color to the fading landscape. 

Apple

Crisp fruits ripen as autumn air cools gradually.

Apple trees are some of the most rewarding trees to use in fall edible landscaping. Not only do they produce delicious, edible apples, but they also offer a stunning fall color display. Apples ripen from late summer until about October. They reach peak flavor as the cool autumn air rolls in. 

In terms of fall foliage, these trees are stunning. Many varieties change their foliage from green to shades of orange, red, and gold. This occurs alongside ripening fruit, making this a gorgeous addition to the landscape. You can also store apples for a considerable period.

Pear

Pick early fruit to enjoy later perfectly ripened.

Is there anything tastier than a perfectly ripe pear? Pear trees are wonderful edible landscaping fixtures for fall, and really, every season. It’s in fall, though, that they truly shine. This is when their fruit ripens, and simultaneously, their foliage adds a colorful glow to the autumn color palette. 

Pears are ready to harvest between August and October, depending on the variety and climate. It’s best to pick them before they are entirely ripe and allow them to ripen off the tree. Their autumn foliage varies from gold and orange to reddish-purple.

Persimmon

Leaves turn warm hues as fruit matures slowly.

Persimmons are less common, but no less beautiful, fruit trees for edible landscaping. They are at their most stunning in the fall when their sweet orange fruits ripen. You can eat most persimmons when they are fully ripe and soft. Some are tasty while still firm, and are best for cooking this way.

These trees are ecologically valuable due to their late summer nectar and fall ripening. They will draw birds and other wildlife to the garden. The trees are adaptable, and the foliage turns yellow, orange, and red in autumn. Persimmons reach peak ripeness after the leaves fall, making them unique and interesting. 

Fig

A second crop offers sweet treats before the cold arrives.

Using a fig tree in your edible landscaping brings a special charm to the autumn garden. They are beneficial in this way in warmer climates as they produce a second, fall crop. Many of them begin to ripen in late summer and continue to ripen as late as October. 

Fig trees aren’t just good for harvesting fruit from. They are also lovely ornamentals. Their broad, lobed foliage turns golden yellow as the season changes. They’re such great producers that you’re almost certain to have some figs still on the tree after harvesting. These are excellent for drawing birds and other wildlife.

Quince

Trees hold firm fruit perfect for winter storage.

For edible landscaping that goes beyond the typical fall trees, a quince is an excellent choice. Quince trees are lovely with glossy green leaves that turn a soft shade of yellow as the season changes. The glowing leaves create a beautiful backdrop for the ripening fruits. 

Quince fruits ripen in September and October, though they remain firm. They are too tart and hard to eat raw, but they’re perfect for making delicious jams and desserts. They also store well, so your fall harvest will last well into winter. 

Kumquat

Juicy fruits can be eaten straight from the branches.

Kumquats are a wonderful, small citrus fruit that ripens in the fall and winter. Their tiny orange fruits have a soft rind, so you can eat them whole rather than having to peel them. The flesh is sweet and the rind is tangy, giving them a complex and balanced flavor. 

In terms of their ornamental value, kumquat trees are compact and evergreen. Their clusters of deep green leaves showcase clusters of brilliant orange fruits. For edible landscaping, these are stunning all year, but they truly shine in the fall. 

Berries

Many berries also ripen in the fall, making them excellent for edible landscaping. While not all of them are edible for humans, several are, and they are delicious! In addition to being a nutritious resource for people, berries are an essential food source for birds and other wildlife.

Cranberry

Cool weather deepens red tones on trailing vines.

Cranberries are an iconic fall fruit, ripening in September and October. They’re a unique addition to your edible landscaping. These won’t grow just anywhere, but if you have the right conditions, they are gorgeous and handy around the holidays. Cranberries grow in boggy, acidic soil. They ripen to a magnificent ruby red as the weather cools off, making them highly ornamental. 

Cranberries grow on low-growing vines that make a striking ground cover. While they need a specialized environment, you can recreate this in raised beds if you’re determined. They produce pretty flowers in the spring that feed pollinators. However, they are at their finest in the fall. 

Elderberry

Long canes support heavy clusters of vibrant fruit.

Elderberries peak in early fall, with tiny, deep purple berries that hang in large clusters beneath lovely green leaves. The berries are too tart to eat raw, in any large quantity, but they’re wonderful for making syrups and jams. You can also use them to make tasty elderberry wine. 

In terms of their value to edible landscaping, elderberry plants are attractive, with long arching canes. Their fall foliage is gold, and birds will covet any leftover berries. With delicate flowers in summer, elderberry shrubs are an excellent plant for many seasons. Pick a species that isn’t invasive in your region if you choose to grow them.

Grape

Leaves turn gold as juicy fruits deepen color.

Grape vines are lovely for ornamental use, and they produce delicious fruit. They are excellent for edible landscaping. Depending on the variety and climate, most grapes ripen between August and October. This means that fall brings large clusters of gorgeous, tasty fruits!

In addition to grapes ripening in the fall, they also provide autumn color to the landscape. Many varieties shift from green to shades of gold, rust, and deep crimson, adding vibrant seasonal color. They’re ideal for growing on a trellis or pergola. Just make sure that you have a strong structure, as they can get quite heavy.

Goji Berry

Long canes bend under the weight of berries.

Goji berry plants are wonderfully productive in the fall. They produce beautiful, bright reddish-orange berries that ripen from summer until around October. The berries are exceptionally nutritious and contain a large amount of antioxidants. They’re known to help protect eyesight during the aging process. 

In terms of edible landscaping, goji berry shrubs are uniquely beautiful. They have long, arching canes that bear small purple flowers in early summer. The berries that follow are the true stars of the show. They’re healthy for humans and a great source of food for birds. The foliage often turns yellow in the fall. 

Nuts

Many nut trees are at their most productive in the fall. This is when their crops begin to mature and drop naturally. Nuts are nutritious and delicious, and the trees add shade and beauty to your edible landscaping project. 

Walnut

Shade-loving trees turn golden before shedding fruit.

Walnuts begin to drop their green fruits between September and November, making them ideal for fall landscaping. The exact time depends on the cultivar and the climate. Once the husks split, they are prime for harvesting, drying, and eating. They also store for a significant time, so they’re a great nut to carry into winter. 

Walnut trees are large and beautiful. Their large leaves change to shades of yellow and gold before they drop. They add a ton of glorious color to the autumn landscape. They also enrich the soil as they drop leaves and fruit, which break down and add organic matter. They’re also great for the local ecosystem. 

Walnuts are notorious for their allelopathic tendencies, which limit the growth of other plants. If you grow one, plant it with plants that can handle the compound it emits, juglone.

Chestnut

Broad, serrated leaves frame sweet, edible treasures.

If you want to roast chestnuts in the winter, look to chestnut trees for beautiful fall landscaping elements. These edible nuts are famous for their earthy, starchy, sweet flavor and texture. They’re not the best for storing, and are better prepared soon after harvesting, in the fall. 

Beyond their edible value, chestnut trees are lovely and ornamental. They have broad, serrated leaves that change from green to shades of bronze and gold before dropping. Chestnuts are also good for foraging animals who feed on them in fall and winter if you leave them on the ground. 

Pecan

Golden leaves drift as tasty nuts drop below.

Here in the South, Pecan trees are as iconic as they are fruitful. These tall, stately trees produce a ton of delicious nuts that drop from their perch in the fall, typically between September and November. You’ll have plenty of fresh pecans to make those Thanksgiving pies with. Just ensure you have other pecans nearby, as they need a male and female tree to fruit.

When it comes to edible landscaping, pecan trees are fantastic. Not only do they produce healthy and delicious nuts, but they’re also quite attractive. They have tall arching branches and compound leaves that often change to gold before they fall. The husks and leaves have great ecological value, and leftover nuts are excellent food for wildlife.

Hazelnut

Golden leaves frame buttery nuts ready for harvesting.

Finally, hazelnut trees are an excellent fall landscape trees that also produce tasty edible nuts. They ripen from August through October, and they’re easy to harvest as you simply pick them up off the ground. They have a delicious, buttery flavor, and they’re great for baking with.

Hazelnut trees are the smallest of the nut trees I’ve mentioned, so they are manageable even for smaller landscaping projects. They have a shrubby form with a vase shape, and the foliage changes to beautiful golden and orange hues in autumn.