Why build boring shade when you can grow it instead? Forget plain pergolas and sad patio umbrellas—your backyard deserves better. Picture this: a living ceiling dripping with grapes, a leafy tunnel bursting with beans, a private nook tangled with passionfruit vines. Shade structures don’t have to be dead wood and dull fabric. They can feed you. These 15 edible trellises aren’t just functional—they’re delicious. They give you cover and cucumbers. They block sun and grow snacks. It’s like having your architecture and eating it too. If your garden’s going to cast a shadow, it might as well cast one with flavor.
Grape Arbor
Imagine sitting under a canopy of lush grapevines, the sunlight dappling through the leaves. A grape arbor is not only visually stunning but provides a bounty of delicious grapes. Plant varieties like Concord or Pinot Noir, and watch them flourish over a sturdy wooden structure. This charming setup invites you to relax under its leafy embrace, while also offering a practical way to grow your own fruit.
Wisteria and Pea Pergola
Combine the elegance of wisteria with the utility of peas for a pergola that dazzles. The wisteria’s cascading blooms create a romantic ambiance, while peas offer a tasty harvest. Choose sugar snap or snow peas, which climb joyfully up the pergola, mingling with the fragrant purple blooms. This duo offers both beauty and bounty, inviting visitors to pluck a fresh snack while enjoying their surroundings.
Passionfruit Trellis Arch
This tropical wonder transforms any garden into a paradise. A trellis arch covered with passionfruit vines offers both shade and tantalizing fruit. The striking flowers attract pollinators, while the fruit hangs temptingly. Creating such an arch requires a sturdy framework to support the vigorous growth, but the reward is an exotic retreat filled with sweet, juicy passionfruit, ideal for fresh eating or juicing.
Kiwi Living Roof
A kiwi living roof is as sustainable as it is productive. Transform any shed or outbuilding with a roof covered in kiwi vines, which offer a lush, green insulation layer. Hardy kiwis like the Arctic Beauty variety thrive and produce small, sweet fruits. The living roof concept contributes to biodiversity and energy efficiency, while the kiwi fruits provide a delightful yield, ready to be enjoyed by the handful.
Cucumber and Melon Gazebo
Stroll into a gazebo enveloped in cucumber and melon vines, where nature’s bounty hangs above like ornaments. Cucumbers and melons climb eagerly, offering an edible overhead display. This setup is perfect for those seeking a refreshing haven. Enjoy the cool shade as you reach up to harvest. Melons like cantaloupe pair well with slicing cucumbers, creating a sweet and savory canopy that delights the senses.
Hops and Bean Teepee
For a rustic twist, construct a teepee with hops and beans twining together. Hops bring a touch of brewery flair, while beans provide protein-packed pods. Use pole beans that grow vigorously, entwining with the hops. This structure stands as a verdant fortress in the garden, its conical shape inviting you to step inside where dappled light and fresh produce coexist. Whether for shade or harvest, it’s a delightful addition.
Blackberry Tunnel
Step into a tunnel teeming with blackberries, where sweet anticipation hangs in the air. Blackberry tunnels offer a whimsical journey into a berry paradise, perfect for children and adults alike. The arching canes are trained to follow the structure, creating a shady passage filled with sun-warmed berries. Varieties like Chester Thornless are ideal, ensuring a thorn-free picking experience as you wander through this fruity haven.
Gourd Trellis Walkway
Envision walking beneath a canopy of gourds, their unusual shapes casting playful shadows. A gourd trellis walkway transforms a simple path into a passage of wonder. Gourds like birdhouse or snake gourd thrive in such setups, their trailing vines creating a spectacle. As they mature, gourds dangle overhead, becoming natural art installations. This structure not only provides shade but also sparks curiosity and creativity.
Honeysuckle and Tomato Pergola
Blend honeysuckle’s intoxicating scent with the flavor of homegrown tomatoes on a pergola. This pairing is both aromatic and appetizing. Tomatoes like cherry or grape varieties grow well alongside honeysuckle, creating a lush tapestry of red and green. This pergola invites you to linger, surrounded by floral fragrances and the promise of ripe tomatoes. It’s a sensory delight, offering both nourishment and nature’s perfume.
Squash and Nasturtium Canopy
Picture a canopy where squash and nasturtium vines intertwine, their vibrant blooms and fruits creating a living tapestry. Squash, such as butternut or acorn, provides substantial shade, while nasturtiums add a splash of color and edible flowers. This setup not only cools the area beneath but also offers a culinary treat. Nasturtium leaves and flowers add peppery zest to salads, making every visit beneath this canopy a flavorful adventure.
Bean and Morning Glory Archway
With beans and morning glories, create an archway bursting with color and vitality. The vivid morning glories weave through the arch, complementing the beans’ lush greenery. Pole beans like Kentucky Wonder thrive here, offering both visual appeal and a tasty yield. This archway invites exploration, as vibrant flowers and nourishing pods hang within reach, blending beauty with bounty in a garden spectacle.
Rose and Raspberry Pavilion
Combine romance with edibility in a rose and raspberry pavilion. Climbing roses add elegance, while raspberry canes provide a fruitful harvest. Choose varieties like New Dawn roses and Heritage raspberries for a harmonious pairing. This pavilion offers a fragrant retreat, where blossoms and berries coexist, creating a sensory feast. It’s a haven for moments of reflection or a sweet berry-picking session.
Bitter Melon and Clematis Arbor
Merge the exotic with the elegant by pairing bitter melon with clematis on an arbor. Bitter melon vines offer intriguing fruits, while clematis presents stunning flowers. Together, they create a unique combination of textures and colors, turning a simple arbor into a visual masterpiece. Bitter melon offers a healthful harvest, rich in vitamins, while clematis enhances the garden’s allure with its blossoms.
Fig and Jasmine Trellis Wall
Transform a garden wall with figs and jasmine, where sweet scents and fruits abound. Figs like the Black Mission variety thrive alongside jasmine’s aromatic vines. This trellis wall becomes a fragrant, fruitful barrier, offering privacy and produce. Figs provide a rich harvest, perfect for fresh eating or preserves, while jasmine adds a heady fragrance that enchants the senses. It’s a wall that promises both beauty and bounty.
Pumpkin Patch Pergola
Embrace the autumn spirit with a pumpkin patch pergola. Pumpkin vines climb eagerly, their fruits hanging like festive lanterns. Choose small varieties like Jack Be Little for manageable growth. This pergola becomes an autumnal centerpiece, offering shade and seasonal charm. As the leaves change color, the pumpkins become a focal point, inviting gatherings and celebrations beneath their vibrant, orange glow.