Shrubby herbs like rosemary or sage create low, continuous borders if they are kept neatly trimmed. Fruit trees are also essential for a complete kitchen garden. Of all the plants in the kitchen garden, they embrace the broadest range of seasons with displays of flowers, fruits, leaf color, and branch patterns. Don't plant fruit trees throughout the garden, though, unless you can live with the resulting shade. If space is at a premium, espalier trees against a wall or a trellis or find dwarf varieties.
Vines are another feature in traditional four-square gardens.
They give a garden a lived-in look, softening architecture and taking floral color to new heights. They are at their best twining around entryway arbors and gateposts, or clinging to walls and fences. For color and edible fruit, choose from a wide variety of grapes, based on your climate. Sweet peas and morning glories are fast-growing annual vines that can provide flowers quickly. Every kitchen garden must have them.