Kentucky Native Edible Landscape Guild — FarmPal

A guild specifically designed for Kentucky's climate (zones 6a-7a) using native and naturalized species found in the state's woodlands, river bottoms, and meadows.

Central Tree
American Chestnut hybrid or Chinquapin
Spacing
40-60 feet
Establishment
5-10 years to full production

Guild Layers

Canopy
Dunstan Chestnut (blight-resistant hybrid), Black Walnut, Shellbark Hickory
Understory
Pawpaw (KY native, multiple cultivars), Persimmon, American Plum, Crabapple
Shrub
Spicebush, American Hazelnut, Black Raspberry, Elderberry (KY native), Aronia
Herbaceous
Ramps (wild leeks), Goldenseal (KY native, shade), Ginseng (shade, slow), Bee Balm, Black Cohosh
Groundcover
Wild Strawberry, Creeping Phlox, Violet, Mayapple
Root
Groundnut (Apios), Jerusalem Artichoke, Ramps (bulbs)
Vine
Maypop (Passiflora incarnata), Fox Grape (Vitis labrusca), Trumpet Vine (hummingbird attractor)

Benefits

  • •All species are native or naturalized to Kentucky
  • •Supports native pollinators, birds, and wildlife
  • •Goldenseal and ginseng are high-value shade crops
  • •Adapted to Kentucky's clay soils and humid summers
  • •Persimmon and pawpaw provide unique native fruit
  • •Hickory nuts are calorie-dense winter food
  • •Educational and conservation value