The Foodscape at the Myers Education Center

Foodscape vegetables

The Foodscape at the Farm at the Arb: Integrating diverse food plants in beautiful ways

A foodscape is a landscape where you grow, prepare, talk about, and gather meaning from food. The Foodscape at the Farm at the Arb is a garden for visitors to also learn sustainable and creative ways to grow their own food. 

The term "foodscape" was first used in the 1990s by Dr. Gisèle Yasmeen to describe the geography of food in relation to cities, livelihoods, and gender relations. The use of "foodscape" ultimately grew to form a basis for how we talk about and prepare food, and the role food plays in culture, community, and food justice. 

"Foodscaping" is a type of sustainable landscape design that combines the intentional use of food plants for their edible qualities as well as their ornamental value. Foodscaping also incorporates best practices of design principles, plant selection, and mix and match using such attributes as texture, color and form.

What you'll see at the Foodscape

As the central point of the Farm at the Arb, the Foodscape sits between four separate areas: the Fruitful Way and orchard to the south, the Tashjian Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center to the northwest and the crop farm and vegetable garden to the east. The renovated Red Barn sits to the west. 

The Foodscape contains four innovative gardens: 

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Julie Weisenhorn, University of Minnesota Horticulture Extension Educator, led the design of the Foodscape, in collaboration with Extension Turfgrass Educator Jon Trappe. The Foodscape is right in the middle of the Farm at the Arb, so Weisenhorn designed this garden to connect all of the four areas of the farm. This unifies the spaces and expresses the connections of food, pollinators and land. In sustainable design, connection is accomplished by repetition, giving us the feeling of unity and rhythm as we walk from one area seamlessly into the next. 

Design elements and plants used in each area of the farm were incorporated into the Foodscape. The pollinator garden is repeated as the Meadow for Sharing. Plants from the Fruitful Way are repeated in the Edible Front Yard and the Living Patio. The Living Patio also contains grasses repeated in the Great Lawn inside the Fruitful Way. The linear rows of the Market Vegetable Garden are carried over in the Foodscape’s vegetable garden. Consistent hardscapes including cement walks, containers, trellises, and even mulch also connect and unify spaces.

Growing techniques on display include vertical growing, containers, interplanting, cultivated rows and organically shaped beds. Weisenhorn also aimed to demonstrate how mixing and matching edible plants by texture, form, size, plant type, and color can bring surprising beauty and joy to a landscape that also feeds humans and pollinators.

Designed for education and exploration, the Foodscape provides examples of new growing methods, new plants and new foods. Gardeners of all experience levels and spaces, from acreage to patios and balconies, can take home new ideas.

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Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a deciduous shrub native to Minnesota that thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3–7. It typically matures to a height of 4–6 feet with a similar spread. In mid-spring, it produces showy clusters of white flowers with red anthers, followed by edible black berries in late summer. This multi-stemmed shrub is characterized by its glossy green leaves that turn a brilliant red in fall, offering year-round interest. Highly adaptable, black chokeberry tolerates various soil conditions, including drought, and is suitable for mass plantings or naturalizing in woodland gardens. Learn more about black chokeberry

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full sun to part shade
  • Attractive to birds and pollinators
  • Forms thickets through suckering

Edible uses: Berries

  • Can be eaten fresh, but are very astringent
  • High in antioxidants and vitamin C
  • Used in preserves, juice, syrup, wine and baked goods

 

Bradbury's monarda (Monarda bradburiana) is native to the midwestern and southeastern US and hardy in USDA zones 5–8. This perennial herb is a member of the mint family and grows to 1–2 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide, forming a compact mound. This species blooms earlier than other monardas, producing showy lavender-pink flowers with purple spots from April to May. Aromatic foliage attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. A good choice for pollinator gardens, native plant gardens, borders, naturalized areas, and rock gardens. It is deer and rabbit resistant.

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full sun in moist, clay soil 
  • Tolerates drought and dry, rocky soil
  • Deadhead to promote additional blooms
  • Resistant to powdery mildew
  • Attractive to hummingbirds and pollinators

Edible uses: Leaves and flowers

  • Used for tea

Grey Owl juniper (Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl') is a versatile evergreen shrub native to North America, thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 3–9. It typically matures to a height of 3 feet with a spread of 6 feet. This low-growing shrub is prized for its distinctive silvery-gray foliage. In spring, it produces small, inconspicuous flowers followed by blue, berry-like cones. Grey Owl juniper grows best in well-drained soil. However, it is highly adaptable, and tolerates various soil conditions, pollution, and urban environments. A good choice for erosion control as well as an accent, border, or foundation plant that provides year-round interest.

Additional plant fact:

  • Best grown in full sun
  • Minimal pruning needed
  • Foliage may take on a purplish hue in winter
  • Attracts birds, deer resistant
  • Slow-growing, making it suitable for smaller gardens

Edible uses: Cones

  • Blueberry-like with a piney flavor
  • Dried for flavoring meats, teas, marinades, stews
  • Grey Owl juniper is primarily valued for its ornamental qualities in landscaping.

Natasha™ Russian hardy kiwi (Actinidia arguta 'Natasha') is a female cultivar known for its exceptional cold hardiness and sweet, large round fruits. It typically grows 10–12 feet wide on a trellis or support structure and is hardy in USDA zones 4–9, withstanding temperatures as low as -35°F. Natasha produces abundant crops of sweet, delicious kiwiberries that ripen in September–October. Dioecious and requires pollenizer (male cultivar) A. arguta ‘Andrey’. Growing kiwiberry in the home garden

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil
  • Bears fruit 3-4 years after planting
  • Prune annually to manage rapid growth and promote fruit production
  • Bloom time: May
  • Disease-resistant

Edible uses: Fruits

  • Large, round, smooth-skinned berries
  • Sweet flavor with tropical notes
  • Eaten whole, skin and all

Hybrid, University of Minnesota Forever Green Initiative release

The University of Minnesota is actively involved in developing hybrid hazelnuts for the Upper Midwest region. These hazelnuts grow to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide and are crosses between the native American hazelnut (Corylus americana) and the European hazelnut (Corylus avellana). The goal is to combine the disease resistance and cold hardiness of the American species with the larger nut size and productivity of the European variety. Forever Green Initiative

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full sun to part shade in moist, well-drained soil
  • Resistant to Eastern Filbert Blight
  • Attractive to birds and deer
  • Wind pollinated
  • Good option for a hedge, wind break, backdrop and property border

Edible uses: Nuts

  • Harvested in the fall
  • Eaten raw or toasted
  • Used in baking and cooking

Iceberg Alley® sageleaf willow (Salix candida 'Jefberg') is a compact, deciduous shrub native to North America, thriving in USDA hardiness zones 2–7. It typically matures to a height and spread of 3–6 feet. This cultivar is prized for its stunning silvery-gray foliage that adds unique texture and contrast to landscapes. In spring, it produces fuzzy yellow catkins with showy red stamens, attracting pollinators. Ideally, Iceberg Alley® willow is grown in well-drained, moist soil; however, it adapts to various conditions, including wet soils, making it ideal for rain gardens, borders and backdrops, and as a specimen plant. Branches are cut for use in floral arrangements and other decor.

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full sun to part shade
  • Requires minimal pruning
  • Non-edible
  • Attractive to bees
  • Discovered at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador Botanical Garden

 Iceberg Alley® is a trademark of First Editions®.

This redbud cultivar (Cercis canadensis ‘Minnesota Strain’) was selected by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum from seeds collected from the eastern redbuds that best-survived Minnesota’s harsh winters. The Minnesota Strain is hardy to USDA zone 4 and grows to be 10–20 feet tall and similarly wide. Rosy-pink to magenta flowers in spring are followed by heart-shaped dark green leaves that turn golden yellow in fall. A legume, redbuds produce flat, 2–3” pods that persist in winter. Learn more about the Eastern redbud

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full to part shade in moist, well-drained loamy soil
  • Natural branch form can be somewhat horizontal, creating filtered shade
  • Year-round seasonal interest
  • Attractive to pollinators

Edible uses: Flowers 

  • Eaten fresh or fried
  • Slightly sour taste

Nanking cherry (Prunus tomentosa) is a deciduous shrub that thrives in USDA hardiness zones 2–7. Native to Asia, it typically matures to a height of 6–10 feet with a spread of 6 feet. In early spring, it produces masses of fragrant white to pink flowers, followed by edible scarlet stone fruits in early to mid-summer. This multi-stemmed shrub is characterized by its downy leaves, exfoliating bark, and excellent cold hardiness. Nanking cherry adapts well to various soil conditions and is drought-tolerant, making it ideal for challenging landscapes.

Additional plant fact:

  • Best grown in full to part sun
  • Historically used in traditional medicine
  • Attractive to birds and pollinators
  • Used for hedges or screens

Edible uses: Fruits

  • Eaten fresh or cooked
  • Rich in vitamins A and C
  • Fresh fruit has a tart-sweet flavor
  • Used in preserves, juices, syrups and baked goods

Native to Minnesota, New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) is a low-growing deciduous shrub with glossy green leaves and clusters of tiny white, slightly fragrant flowers in spring. It grows to a height of 2–3 feet and 3 feet wide. It has a deep tap root, making it a good choice for slopes where erosion control is important, and is drought-tolerant once established. Hardy in USDA zones 3–9.

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full sun and well-drained soil
  • Fixes nitrogen
  • Host to Spring and Summer Azure butterflies
  • Attractive to hummingbirds and bees
  • Deer resistant, but rabbits will browse on young plants

Edible uses: Leaves 

  • Used for tea
  • Its name comes from the fact it served as a substitute for imported tea during the American Revolution

Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) is perennial ornamental grass native to Minnesota, and it is known for its fine-textured, fountain-like appearance. Hardy in USDA zones 3–9, it typically grows 2–3 feet tall and wide and forms dense, rounded clumps. Narrow, thread-like green leaves and flowers turn golden to orange in fall and have a fragrance some describe as “buttered popcorn” or “coriander.” A good choice for prairie and meadow gardens, borders, rain gardens, and naturalized areas. Learn more about native grasses

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full sun in well-drained, dry to medium moisture soil
  • Slow-growing but long-lived
  • Drought-tolerant once established
  • Attractive to songbirds, and provides food for wildlife and nesting material for bees
  • Grown for its benefits to ecosystems and ornamental value

Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia macrorhiza) is a resilient, drought-tolerant cactus. It’s native to Minnesota and known for its fleshy green pads and spines, showy early summer flowers, and vibrant edible fruits. Prickly pear is hardy in USDA zones 4–11. Here in Minnesota, it grows to about 1 foot tall and 3 feet wide, but can grow larger in warmer areas. Prickly pear tolerates acidic and alkaline soils and is an excellent choice for dry, hot microclimates and xeriscaping.

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full sun and well-drained, sandy, or rocky soils
  • Modified spines (glochids) reflect sun
  • Prune pads to manage size
  • Spring flowers attract pollinators 
  • Propagate by laying pads on soil or burying the pointed end of a pad.

Edible uses: Fruits (tunas) and pads (nopales)

  • Culinary staples in??
  • Rich in antioxidants and vitamins
  • Wear thick gloves when handling pads to avoid spines
  • Used fresh, in jellies and beverages, and cooked

A deciduous shrub and groundcover, Raspberry Rugostar® rose (Rosa rugosa ‘Meitozaure’) grows to 2–3 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide. Hardy in USDA zones 4–9, this sprawling, re-blooming rose has fragrant magenta flowers in summer and large red-orange hips in fall. Developed by French rose breeder Alain Meilland, Raspberry Rugostar® has excellent resistance to powdery mildew and leaf spot diseases. 

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full sun in well-drained, loamy soil
  • Re-blooms continuously from early summer till mid-fall
  • Attractive to pollinators

Edible uses: Fruit

  • Large, red-orange hips
  • Used for syrups, teas, and jellies

Raspberry Rugostar® is a trademark of Meilland®.

Shadblow serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to Minnesota that thrives in USDA hardiness zones 4–7. It typically matures to a height of 10 feet with a spread of 6 feet. In early spring, before leaves emerge, it produces showy clusters of fragrant white flowers, followed by edible purple-black berries in early summer. This multi-stemmed plant offers year-round interest with its attractive gray bark, spring blooms, summer fruits, and vibrant orange-red fall foliage. Shadblow serviceberry adapts well to various soil conditions and is ideal for naturalized or woodland gardens. Serviceberry

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full to part sun
  • Low maintenance and adaptable to various conditions
  • Attractive to birds and pollinators
  • Wood is sometimes used for tool handles 

Edible uses: Berries

  • Eaten fresh or cooked
  • Used for preserves and baked goods

Shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) thrives in USDA hardiness zones 4–8 and grows 60–100 feet tall with a 40–60 foot spread. Native to Minnesota, it features an oblong crown and distinctive shaggy, peeling bark and may live up to 300 years. This deciduous tree produces edible nuts prized by wildlife and humans, and its durable wood is used for tools and smoking meats. Its shaggy bark provides habitat for bats and insects. Learn more about shagbark hickory

Additional plant facts: 

  • May live up to 350 years
  • Best grown in full sun in well-drained soil
  • Produces nuts most prolifically after 40 years
  • Attractive to pollinators and wildlife including squirrels, birds, and small mammals

Edible uses: Nuts

  • Edible raw or toasted
  • Buttery taste similar to pecans
  • Used in baking and cooking

The silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) is a deciduous, native shrub that thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3–8 and can grow to a mature size of 8–12 feet tall with a similar spread. This thorny, thicket-forming plant is characterized by its silvery-gray foliage and red, orange, or yellow berries that appear after inconspicuous flowers. Well-adapted to harsh conditions, buffaloberry tolerates dry, alkaline, and salty soils, making it ideal for challenging landscapes. The silver buffaloberry is dioecious, requiring both male and female plants for fruit production, and offers multi-season interest with its distinctive foliage and edible berries.

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full sun and adaptable to various soils
  • Nitrogen-fixing plant, improves soil fertility
  • Provides erosion control in harsh environments
  • Traditionally used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes
  • Attractive to pollinators and wildlife, and serves as a food source for birds
  • A good choice for a hedge or as a barrier plant due to its dense, thorny nature

Edible uses: Berries

  • Tart berries may be eaten fresh and are said to be sweeter after a frost
  • Used in jellies, syrups, preserves, and sauces

Native to Minnesota, yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) is a deciduous tree that grows to 65 feet tall and wide. Showy golden bark becomes silvery with age and provides year-round interest in the landscape. Inner bark, young leaves, and twigs smell and taste like wintergreen. Hardy to USDA zones 3–7. Some resistance to bronze birch borer. Yellow birch

Additional plant facts:

  • Best grown in full to part sun in moist soil
  • Tolerates a wide range of soil pH from acidic to alkaline
  • Male catkins (flowers) droop while female catkins are held upright 
  • Attractive to pollinators, birds, and small mammals

Edible uses: Sap, young leaves, twigs, and bark

  • Collect sap in late winter for birch beer or process to create a molasses-like syrup. Birch syrup has an earthy flavor and is paired with meats and sauces, dressings, and glazes. 
  • Boil leaves, buds, and twigs for a tea that tastes similar to root beer.
  • Create birch tincture by steeping birch bark in alcohol and use it for birch bitters.

 

Arboretum Education staff, Extension Educators, and Extension Master Gardener volunteers will be implementing new ideas and growing new plants in the Foodscape. What is learned here will be the source of Extension and Arboretum educational classes and workshops, written and presented content, and images and inspiration for visitors in-person and online. Plans, diagrams, plant lists and plant information will also be available.

Learn more about Arboretum education classes