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Growing edible fruits and nuts
Quick facts
- There are many cold hardy trees and shrubs that can provide edible fruit and nuts in your home landscape.
Gathering wild foods from the woods and environment is a common practice in many cultures. But did you know there are many wild fruits and nuts that can also be planted in your yard to provide food and enjoyment?
There are many species of trees and shrubs that produce fruits and nuts that can be planted in home landscapes. Shrubs are smaller and preferred when space is limited.
When choosing plants for Minnesota yards and gardens, select cold hardy varieties for best results. See other pages on this site about growing stone fruits, raspberries, strawberries, apples and grapes in home gardens.
The list of fruits and nuts in the following table is not complete but gives information about many trees and shrubs that can be planted in home landscapes.
Pollinator friendly includes plants that are pollen and nectar sources, as well as those that can provide pollinator habitat.
| Trees/Shrubs | Scientific name | MN native | Pollinator friendly | Zone | Comments | Height (feet) | Width (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apricot | Prunus armeniaca | X | 4-8 | 2 varieties for cross pollination | 12-18 | 10-15 | |
| Blackberry | Rubus spp. | X | X | 5-8 | 3-5 | 6-20 | |
| Blueberry | Vaccinium spp. | X | X | 3-7 | pH 4.0-5.5; 2 varieties best | 5 | 3 |
| Buffaloberry | Shepherdia argentea | X | X | 2-7 | 1 male to pollinate 1 or more females | 3-13 | 5-8 |
| Cherries, Dwarf Sour | Prunus kerrasis | X | 2-5 | www.fruit.usask.ca/articles/cherries.pdf | 6-7 | 6-7 | |
| Cherry, Nanking | Prunus tomentosa | X | 4-6 | 6-8 | 6-10 | ||
| Cherry, Tart | Prunus cerasus | X | X | 4-7 | 10-12 | 15-20 | |
| Chestnuts | Castanea mollisima � (Chinese) | X | 4-9 | Requires slightly acidic, well-drained soil | 40-60 | 50 | |
| Chokeberry, Black | Aronia melanocarpa | X | X | 3-7 | Aronia Berry (A. mitschurinii) | 5-7 | 5-7 |
| Chokecherry | Prunus virginiana | X | X | 2-7 | 5-15 | 6-10 | |
| Cranberry, Highbush | Viburnum trilobum | X | X | 3-7 | 3-10 | 3-6 | |
| Currant, Black | Ribes nigrum | X | 3-5 | (European - nigrum) | 3-5 | 3-5 | |
| Currant, Red | Ribes rubrum | X | 3-5 | 3-5 | 3-5 | ||
| Currant, White | Ribes spp. | X | 3-5 | 3-5 | 3-5 | ||
| Elderberry | Sambucus spp. | X | X | 3-8 | May grow but not ripen in Zone 3. Black is edible. | 6-10 | 6-12 |
| Gooseberry | Ribes hirtellum | X | X | 3-8 | Most are American x European hybrids | 2-5 | 3-5 |
| Hardy Kiwifruit | Actinidia kolomikta | X | 3-9 | 1 male to pollinate 1 or more females. May not fruit in zone 3. | 15-20 | 20-25 | |
| Hazelnut | Corylus americana | X | X | 3-9 | Bush-type, being tested in MN | 4-12 | 3-8 |
| Hickory | Carya laciniosa,C. cordiformis,C. ovata | X | X | 4-8 | Shellbark for uplands; Bitternut, Shagbark for lowlands | 60-80 | 50 |
| Honeyberry | Lonicera caerulea | X | 2-7 | Needs 2 compatible varieties. www.fruit.usask.ca/haskap.html. Birds and powdery mildew can be problems. | 3-5 | 3-5 | |
| Jostaberry | Ribes nidigrolaria | X | 3-8 | 6 | 4-8 | ||
| Juneberry | Amelanchier spp. | X | X | 2-5 | Serviceberry and Saskatoons; shrub or tree forms | 5-15 | 10-40 |
| Korean Pine | Pinus koreansis | 3-7 | Pine nuts, resembles white pine | ||||
| Lingonberry | Vaccinium vitis-ideaea | X | X | 2-7 | pH 4-5.5 | 2-16 | 1-3 |
| Nannyberry | Viburnum lentago | X | X | 2-8 | Prefers moist soil | 10-15 | 6-12 |
| Paw-Paw | Asimina triloba | X | 5-8 | Needs 2 varieties | 15-20 | 15-20 | |
| Peaches | Prunus persica | X | 4-9 | 24 | 15 | ||
| Pear | Pyrus spp. | X | 3-9 | Fireblight resistant; need 2 varieties | 10-40 | 15-20 | |
| Plum | Prunus spp. | X | X | 4-9 | Hybrids need 2 compatible varieties; European plums are self-fertile | 12-20 | 8-15 |
| Walnut, Black | Juglans nigra | X | X | 4-6 | High quality nuts from select cultivars | 100-150 | 60-120 |
Reviewed in 2019