Food Forest Plant List

A quick selection of plants and plant guilds for food forests

Here’s a list of some common plants that can be used as a food forest plant list:

Fruit trees: Apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot, cherry, fig, mulberry, etc.
Nut trees: Walnut, pecan, hazelnut, chestnut, almond, etc.
Berry bushes: Raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, gooseberry, currant, etc.
Perennial vegetables: Asparagus, artichoke, rhubarb, horseradish, etc.
Annual vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, peas, etc.
Herbs: Chives, basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, thyme, etc.
Shrubs: Elderberry, black locust, honeyberry, serviceberry, etc.
Climbing plants: Grapes, kiwi, passionfruit, hops, etc.
Groundcover plants: Strawberries, clovers, creeping thyme, etc.
Root crops: Carrots, beets, turnips, radishes, etc.

It’s important to note that the specific plants that are included in a food forest will depend on the climate, soil type, and other environmental factors. It’s also a good idea to include a mix of native and non-native plants, as well as plants that provide a range of ecosystem services, such as improving soil health, conserving water, and providing habitat for wildlife.

Additionally, when you are thinking of a food forest plant list it is imperative that you also think about plant guilds. Because in a food forest plants live in simbiosis.

Here are some examples of plant guilds that can be used in a food forest:

Fruit Tree Guild: This guild is centered around a fruit tree, such as an apple, pear, or cherry tree, and includes companion plants that provide complementary ecosystem services. For example, a fruit tree guild might include nitrogen fixing plants, such as clover or beans, to improve soil fertility, as well as mulching plants, such as comfrey or straw, to conserve moisture and reduce weeds.
Berry Guild: This guild is centered around a berry bush, such as a raspberry or blackberry, and includes companion plants that provide support and additional food. For example, a berry guild might include a nitrogen fixing shrub, such as a sea berry, to provide habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators, as well as a groundcover plant, such as strawberries, to reduce weeds and retain moisture in the soil.
Nut Tree Guild: This guild is centered around a nut tree, such as a walnut or pecan, and includes companion plants that provide additional food and habitat. For example, a nut tree guild might include a nitrogen fixing shrub, such as a black locust, to improve soil fertility, as well as herbaceous plants, such as clover or dandelion, to conserve moisture and reduce weeds.
Vegetable Guild: This guild is centered around a vegetable crop, such as tomatoes or peppers, and includes companion plants that provide support and additional food. For example, a vegetable guild might include a nitrogen fixing shrub, such as a sea berry, to provide habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators, as well as a groundcover plant, such as clover, to reduce weeds and retain moisture in the soil.
Herb Guild: This guild is centered around an herb, such as basil or rosemary, and includes companion plants that provide additional food and habitat. For example, a herb guild might include a nitrogen fixing shrub, such as a sea berry, to provide habitat for beneficial insects and pollinators, as well as a groundcover plant, such as clover, to reduce weeds and retain moisture in the soil.

It’s important to note that these are just a few examples of plant guilds that can be used in a food forest. The specific guilds that are used will depend on the climate, soil type, and other environmental factors, as well as the specific goals of the food forest.

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