10 Delicious Vegetables to Grow That Are So Pretty You'll Forget They're Edible These show-stopping vegetables do double duty as beautiful garden plants. Close Credit: Crispy photo Growing vegetables in the garden has its perks. They make great, healthy snacks and meals, but they also look beautiful in flower beds. In fact, some make for very attractive garden displays—so much so that you might even forget they’re there to be harvested. Here, we've rounded up some of the prettiest vegetables—according to experts—and share why you’ll want them in your garden. Read on to learn more about technicolor peppers, flowering squash, and many others. Jen McDonald, a certified organic vegetable specialist and the co-founder of Garden Girls, a turnkey garden design and installation company Julia Dzafic, gardener and author of Garden Grown Lotte Berendsen, a plant expert from PlantIn app, an AI-based identification and plant care assistant app 10 Edible Shrubs for a Beautiful (and Delicious) Garden, According to Experts 01 of 10 Eggplant Credit: Roberto Jimenez Mejias / Getty Images Eggplants are a beautiful sight to behold in any garden. “When they go into fruit, they grow beautiful pink or violet flowers," says Lotte Berendsen, a plant expert at the PlantIn app. “Grow your eggplants in flower beds with nasturtiums,” she recommends. These flowers are known as trap crops, which means they'll help lure pests away from your eggplants. Zones: 9b to 12aMature Size: 2 to 4 feet tall by 1 to 3 feet wideCare Requirements: Full sun; loamy soil 02 of 10 Swiss Chard Credit: Kim Peterson / Getty Images Swiss chard’s long, rainbow-like stems lead to huge, crinkled leaves with delicate veining in red, orange, yellow, or white. It’s why this plant is a favorite for many, including Jen McDonald, co-founder of Garden Girls. “I like to incorporate it in the corners or entry points of my garden beds so that the pop of color is the first thing you see,” she says. Zones: 2a to 11bMature Size: 1 to 2 feet high by 8 in to 1.5 ft. wideCare Requirements: Full sun; loamy soil 03 of 10 Artichoke Credit: Werner Meidinger / GETTY IMAGES Artichokes are like living art. “The leaves look almost prehistoric with their silvery shade of green,” says McDonald. “And as the plant grows, an allium-like thistle emerges from the top and explodes into tiny purple flowers.” Artichoke tends to sprawl, so if you have the room, plant it in the ground and let it do its thing. This way, you’ll have plenty of show-stopping color for your garden. Zones: 7 to 11Mature Size: 3 to 6 feet tall by 4 to 5 feet wideCare Requirements: Full sun, well-draining soil How to Grow Perfect Artichokes Every Season, According to Horticulturists 04 of 10 Chinese Five-Color Peppers Chinese five-color peppers are a sight to behold. “As the fruits on this plant mature, the cone-shaped peppers start out as purple and over time fade through cream, yellow, orange, and eventually red when ripe,” says Berendsen. The fruits don’t all mature simultaneously, so you’ll see all five of these colors throughout a singular plant. “Plant your peppers alongside marigolds, petunias, or dwarf sunflowers to attract beneficial insects," she adds. Zones: 5 to 12Mature Size: 3 feet tall by 2 feet wideCare Requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 05 of 10 Purple Cauliflower Credit: EvergreenPlanet / Getty Images Add this vegetable to your garden for its striking purple hue. “The color comes from antioxidants called anthocyanins, which react to sunlight and produce a purple pigment,” says McDonald. The shape of the plant is also very special. McDonald likes to combine cauliflower with flowers around the border of gardens for an impressive display. “Purple cauliflower is also incredibly tasty, and may encourage picky eaters to give it a go," she adds. Zones: 2 to 11Mature Size: 12 to 30 inches tall by 12 to 24 inches wideCare Requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 06 of 10 Kale Credit: Yulia Naumenko / Getty Images Kale isn’t just for salads. The leaves are either long and firm, curly, or flat, depending on the type, says McDonald. And it comes in a variety of shades, from blue-green to purple to scarlet (like the photo on top). “It grows tall from a thick center stalk, making it look almost fountain-like," she says. Plus, it’s hardy, and pairs well with flowers like pansy, which can grow happily at the base of a kale plant. “Herbs also grow very well next to and underneath growing kale plants," McDonald says. Zones: 7 to 9Mature Size: 1 to 2 feet tall by 1 to 2 feet wideCare Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; loamy, moist, well-draining soil 8 Plants You Should Always Grow Next to Kale, According to Pro Gardeners 07 of 10 Squash Credit: KenWiedemann / Getty Images Squash is surprisingly pretty. “Their large, lush green leaves create a gorgeous backdrop for their star attraction: Huge, golden-yellow blossoms that practically glow in the sunlight,” says Julia Dzafic, author of Garden Grown. In her garden, she trails them along raised bed edges or weaves them through flower beds to create a relaxed, cottage-garden feel. “The flowers are edible too, and squash blossoms stuffed with cheese and lightly fried are one of our favorite summer treats.” Lastly, all the bright blooms can attract more pollinators. Zones: 2 to 11Mature Size: 9 to 18 inches tall by 10 to 15 feet wideCare Requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil 08 of 10 Chives Credit: Rosmarie Wirz / Getty Images Chives lend a wild, untamed beauty to your garden. “Their slender green stalks add a clean, fresh look for most of the season," says Dzafic. Later, the plant bursts into bloom with round, purple puffball flowers. “Even better, they’re fantastic for attracting pollinators—and you’ll have an endless supply for garnishing dishes all summer long," she says. Zones: 3 to 9Mature Size: 10 to 15 inches tall and wideCare Requirements: Full sun to light shade; loamy to sandy soil 09 of 10 Basil Credit: Nadya So / Getty Images Basil is a kitchen essential, but it’s also a beautiful and nice-smelling addition to your garden. “The bright, glossy green leaves create lush, full plants that are just beautiful tucked between flowers or near vegetables,” says Dzafic. And if you let basil flower (instead of constantly pinching it back), then it sends up soft white or purple blossoms that add a sweet, romantic look to beds (and a gorgeous, delicious garnish in the kitchen). Zones: 10 to 11Mature Size: 18 to 24 inches tall and wideCare Requirements: Full sun; well-draining soil How to Grow and Care for Basil Plants—Indoors and Outside 10 of 10 Carrots Credit: Jurgute / Getty Images The beauty of carrots is very underrated. “Underground, they’re busy growing crisp, sweet roots—but above ground, they produce elegant, ferny tops that add soft movement and texture to garden beds,” says Dzafic. Carrot foliage looks a lot like dill or fennel, giving off an effortless, wild beauty, she adds. Dzafic loves planting carrots among wildflowers, herbs, or even along the edges of pathways, where they help create that relaxed, natural, slightly untamed vibe. Zones: 3 to 10Mature Size: 6 to 12 inch root, 9 inch spreadCare Requirements: Full sun to part shade; loose, well-draining soil Explore more: Garden Vegetable Garden Ideas