Edible Houseplants: Grow Your Own Citrus, Coffee, Vanilla, and 43 Other Tasty Tropical Plants

by Laurelynn G. Martin, Byron E. Martin

The world of houseplants just got tastier with this colorful guide to growing edible plants indoors! Houseplant enthusiasts will be delighted to discover the range of tropical plants that can be grown in containers indoors, in any location. Laurelynn and Byron Martin, owners of Logee's Plants for Home & Garden, are nationally renowned for their expertise in growing fruit-bearing and tropical plants indoors. Their colorful guide features photos and complete care guidelines for 46 food-bearing plants, includes lemons, limes, grapefruit, cherries, olives, passion fruit, papaya, and much more. Fresh, fragrant, and flavorful, Edible Houseplants  expands the fun and pleasure of growing indoor plants. 

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Plants, Reference, Food, Nature, Food and Drink

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2023

Reviews

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful beginner friendly guide to growing edible plants indoors in any climate. It’s worth noting that I wasn’t aware that it would strictly be tropical varieties of smaller trees and bushes, so if you’re looking for information on how to grow herbs and greens, this isn’t the guide for that. All in all, a helpful read with gorgeous photo inlays.



*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always wanted an Orange tree in my house but never knew how to make it possible, but knowing the pruning technique here I realize I was wrong at some place there.

I really loved the 'Tropical Fruit Basket'. I wonder how come there is a pineapple guava? But I have eaten most of the mentioned fruits here. I must go with avocado too as it is so much expensive compared to other fruits available in market.

This is a lovely guide on the edible plants and how to nurture them and what else we could have/made from fruits if not just to eat. I believe I must spread words, now when I have read it all, to make me a proven horticulturist. LOL.

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[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author, who is the co-owner of Logee's Plants in Connecticut, describes plants which produce edible fruit and can be grown indoors. They vary from the familiar lemons and limes, to the unfamiliar Buddha’s Fingers and Acerola Cherry. There are both color illustrations and photographs accompanying each description, and warnings of what problems might arise, such as mealybugs or scale, and how best to address them. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Joy Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so exciting because I love to eat and I have no idea how to grow things but I find myself increasingly motivated to grow things I can eat! I also have very little garden space and would prefer to be able to grow things in pots - so this book is perfect! It's got very cute illustrations and lovely photos - which is essential for me because I'm a very visual learner. All of the instructions are simple and easy to follow which is also an essential requirement for me!

[Arisu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook!

If you are looking to grow edible tropical fruits and how to grow them in planters/in your garden, this is the book! It is quite detailed and educational, and as a beginner gardener I felt like I've learnt a lot from this book. I love that it comes with a plant care guide which included pests and diseases, and even pros/cons of types of pots! The drawings and photos are big bonus points as words can only describe so much when it comes to a plant.

The only thing that took me by surprise is that I'd assumed "Edible Houseplants" meant herb or leafy greens (I literally only read the title, saw the cover, and as a newbie gardener I am eager to read anything about growing edible plants) and was surprised to find a very detailed information on lots of different kinds of citrus and tropical fruits, some of which I am not even sure if I can find seeds for in Australia but still enjoyed learning about.

All in all - Would recommend for any beginners looking to grow tropical fruits in the house! A star off because I wish the book had even more fruits LOL!

[Mellissa Bushby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully set out with stunning images, this is a great beginner's guide to growing your own edible, tropical plants, especially for people who don't have much space. It's not for herbs and veggies as such, so if that's what you are looking for, this isn't the book for you.

4 stars

[Misti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is what is says it is: a guide to edible houseplants. The bulk fall into the citrus category, but there are other fruits as well as plants like tea, vanilla, coffee, chocolate, and sugarcane. Each plant gets 2-4 pages of informational text with very nice photographs, growing info, and even the occasional recipe. There are troubleshooting tips in the back of the book for common issues, pests, and diseases (relatively rare when these plants are grown as houseplants), as well as information on hand-pollenating and pruning. I found it very instructive, though I didn't rush out to buy more houseplants. I liked that they listed which ones are easiest to grow, and which were more finicky. I'll probably try some of them eventually, but for now, this was a pleasant informational read. Recommended if you're interested in the topic!

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing plants outside or inside is incredibly gratifying. As a master gardener I garden in both zones 2a and 8b and am always thrilled to learn more about new-to-me techniques, plants and inspirations. The photographs are glorious and illustrations so accurate identification is a breeze.

Some examples of lovely fruits to grow indoors are Calamondin Orange, Sunquat, Naranjilla, Acerola and Peanut Butter Fruit, none of which I have seen or grown. The names along sound mouthwatering! But there's more to these plants than the fruit...they all have intriguing properties and are suited for container growing. Many are wondrously scented, have beguiling foliage and surreal blossoms. Not only are specific fruits highlighted along with size and form, bloom and fruiting seasons, family, care and origin but also ways to set yourself up for success. Delectable recipes are included as well (think Pink Grapefruit Granita, Balsamic Fig Reduction and Ponderosa Lemon Bread). In the Mediterranean I have experience growing some of the fruits mentioned in this book such as olives, figs and citrus but the information here really opened my eyes more than ever before.

Whether you dream about unusual houseplants or are pursuing it, do read this book. Beginners and experts alike are bound to be mesmerized by the information here. This book actually inspires me to pursue this unusual hobby and indulge in a cornucopia of unique tropical plants, full immersion.

My sincere thank you to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this stupendous book.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an enthusiastic gardener with over 80 houseplants and two outdoor gardens, I must say this book is truly amazing! It provides detailed insights on a variety of plants that I never would have considered growing. Being in hardiness zone 8A, I have always been hesitant to try growing more tropical plants, but this book has given me the confidence to give it a go.

The illustrations in the book are beautiful and are my favorite part. The plant-specific chapters provide fairly detailed information; however, they may not be detailed enough for beginners. The plant care section at the end is great and makes everything very beginner-friendly, but it would be helpful if this section was at the beginning of the book to avoid newbies being intimidated at first.

I am excited to try my hand at growing these plants! It's still early in the spring, and I'm optimistic that I can get a lot of growth going outside this summer before moving them inside or hopefully establishing them outside!

Thank you Netgalley, Storey Publishing, and the Martins for this book. I will be buying a hardcopy as soon as it’s available!

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edible Houseplants by Laurelynn G. Martin is an excellent reference book for anyone who wants to grow their own citrus, coffee, vanilla, and other tropical plants indoors. It is particularly useful for beginners who may not have outdoor space to garden in. The book provides complete care guidelines and colorful photos for 46 food-bearing plants, including lemons, limes, grapefruit, cherries, olives, passion fruit, and papaya. Each fruit receives a two-page spread, with information that is broken down into easily consumable pieces.

The book is broken down into five parts, with Part 1 (Citrus Fruits) and Part 2 (The Rest of the Tropical Fruit Basket) making up the bulk of the book. In fact, 80% of the fruits listed in the book are covered in these two sections. Part 3 (Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate), Part 4 (Sugar and Spices), and Part 5 (Plant Care) are smaller portions of the book, and I was a bit disappointed with this because not everyone wants to grow entire citrus trees in their home. However, there are many books that already discuss what herbs can be grown indoors, so I don't blame the Martins for leaving those out.

While this book covers a wide variety of edible house plants, there are many that are left out. The book heavily features citrus and tropical fruits. This book is best suited for beginners. it's a great starting point for those interested in indoor gardening and will provide a solid foundation of knowledge. The information is presented in a clear and concise manner that won't overwhelm those just starting their gardening journey. However, experts or those studying botany or similar subjects may find that this book does not offer much new information. Also, this book probably isn't the best for those in growing zones 9 and 10, as there will likely be a lot of overlap between the plants in this book and outdoor gardening books for those zones.

It's worth noting that Laurelynn and Byron Martin are the owners of Logee's Plants for Home & Garden. This store is pretty well-known within the plant community and has a positive reputation for a reliable quality of plants and information.

Overall, I would recommend Edible Houseplants to beginning hobbyists, public libraries, and those in larger city areas where typical outdoor gardening space may not be available.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Edible Houseplants is a tutorial and gardening guide for raising tropical plants like coffee, vanilla, and citrus as houseplants written and curated by Laurelynn and Byron Martin. Originally published in 2010, this reformat and re-released edition was released 12th Sept 2023 by Hachette on their Storey imprint. It's 160 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats.

This is a well written, accessible, and fun guide to growing tropical plants in the home/garden. The author does a great job explaining the challenges and tricks involved in an enthusiastic and "can-do" manner.

The book is arranged in thematic chapers: Citrus fruits, other tropical fruits (acerola, avocado, banana and many more), coffee tea & chocolate, sugar & spices, and general tropical plant care & propogation (including one of the better all purpose troubleshooting and pest control chapters I've seen). The author/publisher have also included a good abbreviated glossary and resources and links lists.

Five stars. I think most readers will understand that nobody is going to be able to grow enough of anything to make a significant addition to their food and/or resources balance, but as a fun and education experiment and for bragging rights, it's a very very cool book.

This would be a great choice for home use, gardening groups, and public and school library collections.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, it's such a wonderful guide on how to get started growing edible plants.

The layout is really accessible and easy on the eye, something I look for in ebook information books! This book specialises in bushes and small trees and was really interesting for me to read because I don't know much about this area, it also talks through pruning and managing fruit bushes and trees that sound rather difficult such as pineapple, oranges, lemons, limes etc,

I love that this book shows you can grow fruits in the house, I have a small space in my rented accommodation and the garden area is a really difficult terrain and I didn't want to plant anything in the ground that I would like to bring with me if I moved, I received a lot of controversy about growing things in pots, but apparently, this book says no, grow in pots and in the house! Amazing!

The book covers a lot of ground, talking about pot sizes - the best and worst, the plant guide, and much about pests and diseases. I really liked the bit about insects and pests such as mealybugs, it's quite a handy tip to learn about especially if you have houseplants already as you don't want to be transferring.

**It's worth noting that this book isn't about herbs and greens so if you are thinking of getting to help you grow these at home, they are NOT in this book! **

My only complaint for this book is that I wish it was longer!

I received my free ARC from Netgalley in return for my honest review.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover initially caught my interest but I was surprised to find the content to be focused primarily on fruit-bearing plants, mainly citrus and exotic types. The cover and title sort of through me off. For instance I thought based on the title and imagery that I would be learning about common edible plants like herbs, leafy greens, and flowers. The subtext don’t and size below the title gets lost in the mix. The title should read “Edible Tropical Houseplants”.

This book is full color with lots of imagery. I do not recommend reading it on the Paperwhite Kindle as it does not translate well for black/white. This would be a great book for someone interested in exotic/tropical plants that live in an area that doesn’t require excess heating/cooling during the winter or summer. Most, if not all plants featured in the book require a temperature-controlled environment. It would have been great to see a map for the zones for each plant or a guided instruction blurb on how to best locate zones based on readers' location. With that said, I think this is a good coffee table read with some fun recipes and interesting facts about each plant but not an easy book for beginners.

Thank you, NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Charessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the eGalley to review!

I'm honestly in love with this book. It's exquisitely comprehensive compared to other books on the market (and even the Internet) and has everything you need to know about the plants in it, like common name(s), scientific name (and pronunciation), history, place of origin and other particulars like average growth size and growing season(s), growing conditions and care, potential problems, and even recipes! I also love love love that it has different photos (and lovely illustrations) so you can recognize the plant, its blossoms, and its fruit. The layout of each entry is so good, consistent, and easy to follow. The entire book is also split by category, with each plant entry going in alphabetical order, so it's easy to find the plant you're looking for. It even tells you which plants are good for beginners!

I absolutely want it not just for our library because our patrons just adore growing their own food, but for myself, because I've been considering growing some of these plants for a while and this is simply the most perfect guide I've come across. 100% a recommend.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could pick citrus fresh from the tree, right at home? If you don't live in Florida or somewhere else with the perfect climate, you can still grow a wide variety of citrus and other tropical fruits as well as coffee, tea, cocoa, spices, and sugar inside your home. This book provides 2 to 4 pages for each of the plants covered, detailing the botanical notes, growing conditions, care instructions, and tips for potential problems. The authors include a list of which plants might be best for beginners, but the information is so straightforward -- and backed up with a section on general growing tips, including hand pollination, fertilizing, and pruning -- that just about anyone with basic gardening knowledge will be able to grow these delights successfully at home. The book includes several recipes and full-color photos, so it's a joy to read even if you don't plan on creating your own citrus grove or coffee garden at home.

Thank you, Storey Publishing and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edible Houseplants by Laurelynn G. Martin and Byron E. Martin is a wonderful starter guide for anyone interested in unique houseplants. Full of drawings, photos, and recipes that all complement text which details the background, origins, and growing guides for various plants.

Anyone interested in growing edible plants will walk away with plenty of information on how to get started. Who knew you could grow your own coffee plant inside your home?! I’m inspired to try!

The shape, size, and layout of this book is also very easy to navigate. For me, that’s a big selling point in a reference book. The book lays flat and the pages are easy to read. Color photos and hand drawn illustrations are plentiful for each plant.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for an ARC of this title, in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Red · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is EXACTLY the book I've been looking for to understand more about cultivating (and NOT killing) INDOOR tropical plants. I've already gone and purchased a copy so my young kids can "give" it to me for Christmas 😁

Really awesome breakdown by type of tree/shrub, what-all each would benefit from, and how to best care for your plants. I also prefer that the practical items (pot choice, fertilization, watering discussions, etc) are kept to the back, making it easy to flip through the front and find which HOUSEPLANT (not "outdoor" plant) you would like to reference. Plus, most gardeners know, we prefer to skip all the practical stuff and go straight to the pseudo-catalogue of varieties anyway.

Some previous reviews complain that it "only" focuses on the indoors... I must object to low ratings on that score because HONESTLY FOLKS, IT'S IN THE TITLE ✌🏻

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book if you want to grow tropical edible plants inside. Do note that it’s specifically about tropical plants and the vast majority of them are smaller trees and bushes you’ll need to move outside in warm weather. I was really hoping for more regular houseplants (scented geraniums, indoor herbs and the like) but these are things like many varieties of dwarf citrus trees, avocados (no, the ones you grow from pits won’t fruit), tropical berry bushes, banana trees and such.

The book contains many photos and detailed growing information, plus recipes and more. It also goes into common problems and a lot more. It’s quite thorough if you want to grow indoor tropical fruits.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

[Sharondblk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not shy about having giant trees inside. we have a pretty minimalist house, without much extra furniture, or paintings, or photos around. instead, we have plants. When Edible Houseplants by Laurelyn G. Martin came up on Netgalley I was intrigued. The subheading is Grow Your Own Citrus, Coffee, Vanilla, and 43 Other Tasty Tropical Plants and this books tells you how to grow and care for all these plants, in pots. It also provides recipes and other ideas what you can use the produce for. It's quite inspiring, and I'd quite like to grow my own coffee and vanilla, to go with the lemons, bay leaves, rosemary and other herbs I already grow. This book is a good general guide and would make a lovely gift for anyone who has a growing interest in plants.

[Kristin C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite gardening book! I'm an avid gardener (Zone 9) and I love to grow exotic edibles in my yard. I currently have calamondin, kumquat, starfruit, passionfruit, bananas, loquats and my towering 40 ft. avocado tree...but this book also suggests options I had not previously considered.

I would love to try my hand at growing chocolate, black pepper, vanilla and cinnamon in containers. I am so impressed by the in-depth coverage in this book, ranging from growing conditions to potential problems and pests. It also touches on the pros and cons of container types, potting mixes and propagation tips. If you are new to gardening, no worries, this book has you covered.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any gardener interested in fruiting plants, this book really meets a all expectations, and then some. The information, layout and photographs are excellent, and it covers a large range of fruit that can be grown indoors or in outdoor room . The information about each plants growing conditions, and attributes are well explained and there are a large range of fruit trees, some of which sound intriguing.
I really like this book, and I really recommend it to any gardener to use or maybe just dream about the fruit that can be grown as houseplants. Thanks you NetGalley and the publishers for the DRC

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start out by saying that I am NOT a plant person. I have propagation stations. I have plants that I have raised from clippings throughout my house. They are low maintenance because I simply forget they exist. Watering plants feels like another thing you have to remember and they are just supposed to look nice, I guess?

That led me to this book. If I'm going to grow plants inside for my "mental health" and "health benefits" (lol), I would love to make them USEFUL plants. I don't think all of these will work for my house, the amount of light I have, growing some from seeds, etc., but I was able to grow plants from some lemon seeds and that was very exciting!

[Pam Ritchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Edible Houseplants is a guide for growing edible Houseplants or with amazing flowers.

There are suggestions for beginners, hints and tips on what to grown where and information on pests, how to grow them and potential problems 

There are lots of photos of the plants, the fruit and the flowers. 

This is a lovely book if you want to work out how to grow things like citrus, coffee plants, avocado and many more!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Storey Publishing.

[AcademicEditor · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the highlights of "Edible Houseplants" is the variety of plants covered. From the familiar, like citrus and herbs, to the exotic, such as coffee and vanilla, the Martins introduce readers to detailed information on each plant's cultivation requirements, tips for troubleshooting common issues, and, most importantly, imaginative culinary uses. Very handy guide for homesteaders!

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edible Houseplants is really informative. I honestly had no idea so many edible plants can be grown at home and I was fascinated at the information on how to grow and harvest the plants. Although the information for each plant is very brief just knowing its possible allows for further research if I decide to try growing some of my favorites. It’s a very interesting read.

[Katelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cool and informative read that really explains the possibilities for edible houseplants and how you can grow them. I found it to be full of helpful how-tos and recipes for the prospective fruit you will grow. The best part is that the information is broken down clearly and concisely, while making you excited for all the options available to you.

[SoultrySunshine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The imagery in this book is very good. Lots of good information about the plants. It even provides some recipes you can use. I give the book only 3 stars because I was hoping it would have more information about how to actually grow the plants as house plants. I wanted some actual, practice steps on how to make this idea come alive. It fell short of that.

[Erin McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC!

Beautiful illustrations, fantastic starting point as someone who knows next to nothing about growing things (though I'm trying my best!) It demystifies the process to me, which is a key to a great book!

[Snickers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for the opportunity to read and review. This is a great guide for a beginner planning to have houseplants and especially ones that can grow to something we can consume! Such a great informative read.

[Cynthia Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rather interesting book on houseplants. The focus is on plants that bear fruit. The information is presented in a concise way for each plant. This is good if you are interested in trying your hand at growing citrus and such at home. It is inspiring to try.