Edible Ornamentals

Host: Gary Bachman, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist

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You don’t have to search far to find vegetables that taste good and look good today on Southern Gardening.

Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Seed companies have introduced the dazzling array of delicious and decorative plants for both the eye and the pallet. You can chose from colorful vegetables that look great and taste even better. Here are some good choices.

Bright Light Swiss Chart is an easy to grow selection that brings a rainbow of colors to the garden and plate. This plants produces large mild flavored leaves and thick yellow, red, orange, gold, and white stalks. Harvest about two inches from the ground to encourage further growth.

If you want to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, then Scarlet Runnerbean is a fantastic choice. This plant produces scarlet flowers and a vine that will run twenty feet. So, you will need a trellis. Six to twelve inch pods will contain scarlet black beans. Tender pods can be eaten right off the vine.

Another plant that is attractive in both the vegetable and flower garden and the vine is the Mississippi medallion winner, Purple Ruffles Basil. The deep purple leaves are vary fragrant. This plant will have a mature size of twenty-four inches tall and twenty-four inches wide. Uses include fresh garnish of color in salads when used as baby greens. You can also make red pesto for a new culinary twist.

I hope you’ll start to think of how you can add colorful vegetables to your ornamental landscape.

I am horticulturist Gary Bachman with Southern Gardening.

Southern Gardening with Gary Bachman is produced by the Mississippi State University Extension Service.