Grow What You Eat: Edible Alternatives to Common Evergreen Landscaping Plants in the Southeast

Sponsored by Southern Foodscapes

Take a walk through any new subdivision in the Southeastern U.S., and you’ll see a familiar theme: evergreen shrubs, ornamental trees, and tidy lawns. These are the staples developers and builders use for one main reason — they stay green year-round and require minimal intervention.

But there’s another way.

At Southern Foodscapes, we believe your landscape should not only be beautiful and evergreen — it should feed you, too. Below, we highlight common evergreen plants used by developers and suggest food-producing alternatives. We also identify which of these edibles die back in winter and provide ideas for annual plantings that keep your yard looking lush year-round.

1. Boxwood Shrubs (Evergreen)

  • Used for: Borders, foundation plantings

  • Why they’re popular: Dense, green all year, easily pruned into shape

  • Cost: $20–$40 per 2-gallon plant

Foodscape Alternative: Blueberry Bushes (Vaccinium spp.)

  • Evergreen? No — Deciduous

  • Dieback? Loses leaves in fall; branch structure remains

  • Winter Interest Annuals: Dinosaur kale, rainbow chard, ornamental cabbage

  • Cost: $10–$25 per 1-gallon plant

  • Bonus: Spring blooms, summer berries, fiery fall color

2. Liriope / Monkey Grass (Evergreen)

  • Used for: Groundcover, edging

  • Why they’re popular: Hardy, weed-suppressing, stays green year-round

  • Cost: $3–$5 per plug or $10–$15 per 1-gallon pot

Foodscape Alternative: Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum)

  • Evergreen? Partially — May stay green in mild winters

  • Dieback? Yes, to ground in cold areas

  • Winter Interest Annuals: Winter pansies, alyssum, red mustard greens

  • Cost: $4–$8 per 1-gallon pot

  • Bonus: Edible, pollinator-friendly flowers and leaves

food access, agriculture, advocacyK Gordon