Asking for the impossible, perhaps... food bearing hedge

Hi,

I need to put in a hedge for a privacy screen. Is there an evergreen option that would also bear an edible fruit or nut or berry, and at the same time be dense enough for completete privacy? (Our neighbor has a very nasty light in the back yard that we need to block out.)

To complicate matters, the area does not get full sun. In the summer season, probably morning sun and dappled light to shade in the afternoon. (I am removing some trees from the location where the hedge will go, so I have to visualize what the effect might be when the trees are gone, as far a sunlight goes.)

Boel

Surinam cherry would be a shrub to try but I have no idea if it would grow in your area.They are very common in Florida.The fruit is red and full of seed but it has loads of vitamin c.

I have seen natal plums (Cassia) and loquats grown as hedges. Both have edible fruits. Zone 8b would be "iffy" for them, however. How tall does your hedge need to be? Cassia maximums out about 7 feet. A good source of ideas for your area would be Forest Farm. Yuska

http://www.forestfarm.com/ (you can phone and ask for suggestions.)

This message was edited Dec 3, 2006 4:43 PM

Sorry, I should have mentioned, the hedge needs to be a minimum of 8 feet.

I DO think this is probably a dream not to be realized. I may just end up planting arborvitae, and then putting my edibles in infront of the hedge.

Boel

Before you give up, do talk to the people at Forest Farm. An Oregon company that grows thousands of varieties, if what you need exists it will most likely be available there. Yuska

Feijoa (pineapple guava) is hardy to 10F or so and is a pretty evergreen with tasty fruit. If it gets too cold for it the leaves will fall off but it will likely come back the next spring, so it can survive a freak cold winter. It doesn't like full sun so it sounds like it will be happy in your spot. Loquat also sounds like a good possibility but I am not growing them so I don't know as much about them. One Green World and Raintree are potential sources in your area.

Scott

Loquat would probably work for you. Mine have been growing fast and are dense enough for a hedge. Around here they don't like the sun that much but you most likely won't have that problem.

Thank you all for your suggestions! This gives me something to think about and research.

I wonder if hazelnuts would be tall enough to suit you. I know Arbor Day Foundation was running some sort of test program with hazelnut bushes, asking for people around the country to plant them and report results occasionally.

Oops. I missed the "evergreen" part. Hazelnuts would drop their leaves, of course.

Loquart blooms in the winter here and the young fruit aborts because of a freeze most years.It is a beautiful tree however and worth growing just for its beauty.