33317

Apr 5, 2026 · 6 zones analysed

Food forest & edibles

Before & Concept

Concept is illustrative — not a build spec

Recommended Plants

6 plants

Acerola (Barbados Cherry)

Far back end of cleared soil strip, 2.5 ft from wall

Dwarf canopy fruit tree ideal for Zone 10, high vitamin-C producer, tolerates reflected wall heat, fits the strip's scale

Sunlight

Full sun, 6+ hours

Watering

Moderate; drought-tolerant once established

Soil

Well-drained, amend with compost at planting

Maintenance

Light shaping after each fruiting flush; keep under 10 ft

Spacing

8–10 ft from other large shrubs

Seasonal

May drop leaves briefly in dry season; evergreen otherwise in Zone 10

Tips

Monitor for scale and whitefly; treat with neem oil spray

Pigeon Pea

Along back chain-link fence, mid-strip zone

Primary nitrogen fixer for the entire bed, edible pods, fast-growing vertical element along fence, thrives in South FL

Sunlight

Full sun

Watering

Low to moderate; extremely drought-hardy

Soil

Tolerates poor sandy Florida soils; no amendment needed

Maintenance

Cut to 2 ft in late winter to release nitrogen and stimulate regrowth

Spacing

4–6 ft between plants

Seasonal

Pods and flowers October–February in South FL

Tips

Nearly pest-free; attracts beneficial insects and pollinators

Cranberry Hibiscus

Mid-strip, 18 in from wall, between acerola and lemongrass

Edible burgundy-leaf understory shrub, tart leaves for salads and tea, tolerates partial shade from canopy layer, self-seeds in Zone 10

Sunlight

Full sun to partial shade

Watering

Moderate; benefits from existing wall drainage moisture

Soil

Adaptable to South Florida soils

Maintenance

Pinch monthly for bushiness; cut hard once per year

Spacing

3–4 ft

Seasonal

Evergreen and flowering year-round in Zone 10

Tips

Largely pest-free; remove leaf caterpillars by hand if found

Okinawa Spinach

Dense mat at wall base along middle and back sections of strip

Shade-tolerant edible groundcover perfect for the wall-shadow zone, nutritious leaves, spreads to fill gaps, benefits from wall moisture

Sunlight

Partial shade to full shade

Watering

Moderate; keep consistently moist

Soil

Rich, moist; thrives under decomposing wood-chip mulch

Maintenance

Harvest outer stems regularly to encourage fresh growth

Spacing

12–18 in at planting; self-fills quickly

Seasonal

Evergreen in Zone 10; slows slightly in dry season

Tips

Watch for slugs and snails in wet periods; use diatomaceous earth

Perennial Peanut

Sunny outer edge of entire strip and under acerola base

Best nitrogen-fixing living mulch in South FL, suppresses weeds, tolerates full sun on the outer bed edge, edible seeds, pollinator flowers

Sunlight

Full sun

Watering

Low; drought-tolerant once established

Soil

Sandy well-drained Florida soil is ideal

Maintenance

Edge once or twice a year to keep defined; otherwise self-managing

Spacing

12 in plugs; fills full coverage in one season

Seasonal

Year-round green and flowering in Zone 10

Tips

Nearly no serious pests; resistant to most Florida lawn insects

Lemongrass

Near corner of strip closest to camera where cleared soil meets lawn

Edible culinary herb, deters mosquitoes and insects naturally—critical for South FL outdoor use, thrives in full sun and heat, marks entry to food-forest bed

Sunlight

Full sun

Watering

Moderate; handles South FL rain cycles well

Soil

Well-drained; not picky about soil type

Maintenance

Divide clumps every 2 years; harvest outer stalks at soil level

Spacing

3–4 ft clearance as clumps expand over time

Seasonal

Evergreen in Zone 10; no cold risk

Tips

Natural insect repellent; virtually no pest or disease issues

Full Plan

Cross-check with a local nursery

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