--- title: "Food Forest Guilds by Climate Zone: Complete Species Lists" description: "Build a fruit tree guild that fits your climate: the seven guild roles, which plants really fix nitrogen, and species lists by USDA zone." image: https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0318-hero-guild-20260710-064450.webp --- [Skip to content](https://growperma.com/blog/food-forest-guilds-by-climate-zone-complete-species-lists#main-content) [![GrowPerma Logo](https://growperma.com/hs-fs/hubfs/icon-512.png?width=40&height=40&name=icon-512.png)](https://growperma.com/) - [Blog](https://growperma.com/blog) - [About](https://growperma.com/about) [Join the Weekly Dig](https://growperma.com/newsletter) - [Blog](https://growperma.com/blog) - [About](https://growperma.com/about) [Join the Weekly Dig](https://growperma.com/newsletter) ![Overhead view of a fruit tree guild with a central apple tree ringed by comfrey, herbs, clover and daffodils with bees and birds](https://growperma.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0318-hero-guild-20260710-064450.webp?width=1200&height=520&name=gp-0318-hero-guild-20260710-064450.webp) In This Article Table of Contents ![Peter Vogel](https://growperma.com/hubfs/Peter%20Vogel%20Portait.png) Peter Vogel Peter Vogel is the founder of GrowPerma, bringing together evidence-based gardening advice with permaculture principles. When he's not writing about companion ... [Food Forest](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/food-forest) July 10, 2026 # Food Forest Guilds by Climate Zone: Complete Species Lists You planted a fruit tree, mulched around it, and now you are staring at a bare circle of wood chips wondering what else belongs there. In a food forest, the answer is a guild: a small community of plants that surround your tree and do real jobs, feeding it, protecting it, and attracting the insects it needs. The catch is that the right guild plants depend entirely on your climate, and half the plant lists floating around online repeat a stubborn botanical myth. [jujube tree](https://growperma.com/blog/jujube-tree) This guide fixes both problems. You will get the functional logic of a guild, an honest correction about which plants actually fix nitrogen, and species lists sorted by USDA hardiness zone so you can build a guild that survives your winters and thrives in your summers. 7 Functional Roles In a classic guild 13 USDA Zones Match plants to yours 1 Central Tree Anchors each guild 0 Nitrogen From Comfrey It is an accumulator What you'll learn: - What a plant guild is and the jobs each member does - Which guild plants really fix nitrogen (and which do not) - Complete species lists for cold, temperate, and warm zones - Which popular guild plants to avoid because they are invasive Key Takeaway A guild is a central fruit or nut tree ringed by support plants, each filling a role: **nitrogen-fixing, nutrient-mining, mulching, pollinator-attracting, pest-repelling, ground-covering, and grass-suppressing**. Choose species that match your USDA zone, and confirm which ones actually fix nitrogen before you rely on them. ![Cutaway illustration of a fruit tree guild showing a central tree, nitrogen-fixing shrubs, comfrey, clover ground cover and daffodils with bees](https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0318-body1-layers-20260710-064455.webp) ## What Is a Food Forest Guild? **A guild is a designed plant community built around one anchor tree.** Each supporting plant earns its place by performing a function that helps the whole system, an idea popularized by Toby Hemenway's classic apple guild in *Gaia's Garden*. Extension programs now teach the same framework; [Kansas State University Extension](https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/horticulture-resource-center/horticulture-newsletter/documents/2024/may2024/Permaculture%20Planting%20Guilds.pdf) lays out the standard roles. | Role | What It Does | Example Plants | | --- | --- | --- | | Nitrogen fixer | Adds nitrogen to soil | Clover, lupine, false indigo | | Dynamic accumulator | Mines deep nutrients | Comfrey, yarrow, dandelion | | Mulch maker | Chop-and-drop biomass | Comfrey, rhubarb | | Pollinator/insectary | Draws bees and predators | Dill, fennel, borage | | Pest repeller | Confuses or deters pests | Chives, garlic, nasturtium | | Ground cover | Living mulch, shades soil | Strawberry, white clover | | Grass suppressor | Rings out competing grass | Daffodils, alliums | Sources: Build these roles into concentric rings and you get a self-supporting mini-ecosystem. It is the same logic behind a full [food forest](https://growperma.com/blog/food-forest-guide-design-plant-and-grow-an-edible-ecosystem), scaled down to a single tree. ![Infographic of plant guild functional roles: nitrogen fixer clover, dynamic accumulator comfrey, pest repeller onion, pollinator bee, ground cover strawberry, grass barrier daffodil](https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0318-infographic-roles-20260710-064503.webp) ![Close-up of a large-leafed comfrey plant with purple bell flowers at the base of a fruit tree with a hand chopping a leaf for mulch](https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0318-float-left-comfrey-20260710-064505.webp) ## Which Guild Plants Actually Fix Nitrogen? **Here is the myth worth killing: comfrey does not fix nitrogen, and neither does yarrow.** They are dynamic accumulators, plants with deep roots that mine minerals like potassium and bring them to the surface. Useful, but different. As permaculture author Eric Toensmeier explains in ["All Nitrogen Fixers Are Not Created Equal,"](https://thefruitnut.com/2012/07/23/all-nitrogen-fixers-are-not-created-equal-by-eric-toensmeier/) real nitrogen fixing is done by two groups: legumes (clover, lupine, peas, and false indigo, Baptisia) and actinorhizal plants like alder and the Elaeagnus family. Comfrey still earns a spot for its chop-and-drop mulch. Use the sterile cultivar *Symphytum* x *uplandicum* 'Bocking 14', which won't self-seed everywhere; both the [Royal Horticultural Society](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/108577/symphytum-x-uplandicum-bocking-14/details) and [Utah State University Extension](https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/comfrey-in-the-garden) describe its garden use. Just pair it with a genuine legume if nitrogen is what you are after. Why This Works: Stacking Functions A guild works because each plant does more than one job, what permaculture calls stacking functions. Clover fixes nitrogen and covers the ground. Daffodils suppress grass and feed early pollinators. Instead of you hauling fertilizer and mulch, the plants trade services underground. The tighter the web of relationships, the less work the garden needs from you. ## Guild Species Lists by Climate Zone **Matching plants to your USDA hardiness zone is the difference between a guild that thrives and one that dies in January.** Check your zone on the [USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map](https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/home) (updated in 2023), then build from the lists below. For fruit tree selection, [Oregon State University Extension](https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-819-growing-tree-fruits-nuts-home) is a reliable starting point. ![Cold-climate food forest guild with a hardy apple tree, currant bushes, chives and clover with evergreens in the background](https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0318-body2-coldzone-20260710-064500.webp) | Zone Group | Central Tree | Nitrogen Fixer | Support Plants | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Cold (3–5) | Hardy apple, plum, pear | Siberian pea shrub, clover, lupine | Currant, chives, comfrey, yarrow, daffodil | | Temperate (6–7) | Apple, pear, peach, hazelnut | False indigo (Baptisia), clover | Comfrey, garlic, borage, strawberry, dill | | Warm (8–10) | Citrus, fig, loquat | Pigeon pea, cowpea, clover | Sweet potato, lemongrass, marigold, nasturtium | Sources: ![Warm-climate subtropical guild with a citrus tree, pigeon pea shrubs, sweet potato ground cover and lemongrass in bright sun](https://growperma.com/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0318-float-right-citrus-20260710-064509.webp) In every zone, the recipe is the same shape: one central tree, at least one true nitrogen fixer, a comfrey or two for mulch, something with umbrella-shaped flowers for the beneficial insects, a bulb ring to hold back grass, and a ground cover to shade the soil. A [living mulch ground cover](https://growperma.com/blog/living-mulch-ground-cover-plants-that-suppress-weeds) finishes the floor. If you are starting from the classic template, our guide to [what to plant under apple trees](https://growperma.com/blog/what-to-plant-under-apple-trees-the-apple-guild) walks through a full apple guild step by step. A guild is really companion planting scaled up around a tree, so the same pairing logic applies: some plants attract predators that eat pests, others simply take up space that grass would otherwise claim. If you have used a [companion planting chart](https://growperma.com/blog/companion-planting-chart-the-complete-guide-for-every-vegetable) in the vegetable bed, you already understand the principle; a guild just applies it to a perennial system that improves year after year rather than being torn out each fall. Start with plants you can source locally, since a nursery in your region already stocks species suited to your zone. Skip These Invasive Guild Plants Many older guild lists recommend autumn olive and Russian olive (Elaeagnus) as nitrogen fixers. They are, but both are listed as invasive across much of the US by the [USDA National Invasive Species Information Center](https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/autumn-olive). Use native nitrogen fixers like false indigo (Baptisia), lupine, or native alder instead. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is a fruit tree guild? A fruit tree guild is a small plant community planted around a central fruit or nut tree, where each companion plant performs a helpful function. Typical roles include fixing nitrogen, mining deep nutrients, making mulch, attracting pollinators and pest predators, repelling pests, covering the ground, and suppressing competing grass. The concept was popularized by Toby Hemenway's apple guild in Gaia's Garden and is now taught by university extension programs. A well-built guild reduces the need for fertilizer, mulch, and pest control by letting the plants support each other. ### Does comfrey fix nitrogen? No. This is one of the most common permaculture myths. Comfrey is a dynamic accumulator, meaning its deep roots pull up minerals like potassium that you can return to the surface as chop-and-drop mulch. But it does not fix atmospheric nitrogen. Only legumes such as clover, lupine, peas, and false indigo, along with actinorhizal plants like alder, actually fix nitrogen. Comfrey is still valuable in a guild for mulch and nutrients; just pair it with a true nitrogen fixer if you need to build soil nitrogen. ### How do I choose guild plants for my climate? Start by finding your USDA hardiness zone on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, updated in 2023. Then choose a central tree proven for your zone and add support plants that share the same hardiness range. Cold zones (3 to 5) suit hardy apples with Siberian pea shrub and currants; temperate zones (6 to 7) suit apples, pears, and peaches with false indigo and comfrey; warm zones (8 to 10) suit citrus and [figs](https://growperma.com/blog/companion-planting-fig-trees-mediterranean-guilds) with pigeon pea and sweet potato. Always confirm each plant's zone tolerance before buying. ### How many plants go in a guild? There is no fixed number, but a functional guild usually has one central tree and roughly five to ten support plants covering the key roles. The goal is to fill each function, nitrogen fixing, nutrient accumulation, mulch, pollinator support, pest control, ground cover, and grass suppression, rather than to hit a specific count. Start smaller with three or four reliable performers, watch how they interact for a season, and add more as gaps appear. Overcrowding a young tree can create competition, so give the anchor tree room. ### What should you not plant near fruit trees? Avoid aggressive grasses right up against the trunk, since they compete heavily for water and nitrogen; that is exactly why a daffodil or allium grass-suppressing ring is used. Also avoid invasive nitrogen fixers like autumn olive and Russian olive, which escape gardens and damage native habitat. Finally, keep heavy-feeding annual vegetables from crowding the root zone of a young tree. Choose companions that give more than they take, and give the central tree space to establish for its first couple of seasons. Get the Weekly Dig One practical permaculture guide a week, written for gardeners who do this on weekends: food forest and guild designs that produce. Free, no spam, unsubscribe any time. [Join the Weekly Dig](https://growperma.com/newsletter) [Browse All Guides →](https://growperma.com/blog) ## Resources - [USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)](https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/home) - [Kansas State University Extension — Permaculture Planting Guilds](https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/horticulture-resource-center/horticulture-newsletter/documents/2024/may2024/Permaculture%20Planting%20Guilds.pdf) - [White Earth Tribal & Community College — Fruit Tree Guild Layers](https://www.wetcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Fruit-Tree-Guild-Layers-Categories.pdf) - [Eric Toensmeier — All Nitrogen Fixers Are Not Created Equal](https://thefruitnut.com/2012/07/23/all-nitrogen-fixers-are-not-created-equal-by-eric-toensmeier/) - [Utah State University Extension — Comfrey in the Garden](https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/comfrey-in-the-garden) - [Oregon State University Extension — Growing Tree Fruits and Nuts at Home](https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/ec-819-growing-tree-fruits-nuts-home) - [USDA National Invasive Species Information Center — Autumn Olive](https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/terrestrial/plants/autumn-olive) - [Royal Horticultural Society — Comfrey 'Bocking 14'](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/108577/symphytum-x-uplandicum-bocking-14/details) **Tags:** [Food Forest](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/food-forest) ## Related Articles ![Mature jujube tree in early autumn on a dry homestead, branches heavy with reddish-brown date-like fruit above cracked ground and a split-rail fence](https://growperma.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0551-hero-jujube-tree-20260908-072905.webp?width=400&height=220&name=gp-0551-hero-jujube-tree-20260908-072905.webp) 8 Sep [Food Forest](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/food-forest) #### Jujube Trees: The Fruit That Thrives on Neglect Peter Vogel ![Mature multi-stemmed serviceberry tree loaded with purple-blue berries in a backyard food forest with a cedar waxwing perched among the fruit](https://growperma.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0537-hero-serviceberry-tree-20260907-124311.webp?width=400&height=220&name=gp-0537-hero-serviceberry-tree-20260907-124311.webp) 7 Sep [Food Forest](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/food-forest) #### Serviceberry: The Native Fruit Tree Nobody Harvests Peter Vogel ![Tall stand of flowering sunchoke plants along a homestead fence in early October with a crate of freshly dug knobby tubers in front](https://growperma.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/gp-0529-hero-20260903-064439.webp?width=400&height=220&name=gp-0529-hero-20260903-064439.webp) 3 Sep [Food Forest](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/food-forest) #### Sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichokes): How to Grow, Harvest and Keep Them in Bounds Peter Vogel ![GrowPerma](https://growperma.com/hubfs/icon-512.png) Gardens That Work Like Forests — the smart-friend guide to permaculture for normal backyards. #### Explore - [Blog](https://growperma.com/blog) - [Companion Planting](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/companion-planting) - [Soil & Composting](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/soil-composting) - [Food Forests](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/food-forest) - [Permaculture](https://growperma.com/blog/tag/permaculture-foundations) #### Resources - [About](https://growperma.com/about) - [All Articles](https://growperma.com/blog) #### Legal - [Imprint](https://growperma.com/imprint) - [Privacy Policy](https://growperma.com/privacy-policy) - [Affiliate Disclosure](https://growperma.com/affiliate-disclosure) - Cookie Settings As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 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Typical roles include fixing nitrogen, mining deep nutrients, making mulch, attracting pollinators and pest predators, repelling pests, covering the ground, and suppressing competing grass. The concept was popularized by Toby Hemenway's apple guild in Gaia's Garden and is now taught by university extension programs. A well-built guild reduces the need for fertilizer, mulch, and pest control by letting the plants support each other." }, "name" : "What is a fruit tree guild?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "No. This is one of the most common permaculture myths. Comfrey is a dynamic accumulator, meaning its deep roots pull up minerals like potassium that you can return to the surface as chop-and-drop mulch. But it does not fix atmospheric nitrogen. Only legumes such as clover, lupine, peas, and false indigo, along with actinorhizal plants like alder, actually fix nitrogen. Comfrey is still valuable in a guild for mulch and nutrients; just pair it with a true nitrogen fixer if you need to build soil nitrogen." }, "name" : "Does comfrey fix nitrogen?" }, { "@type" : "Question", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Start by finding your USDA hardiness zone on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, updated in 2023. Then choose a central tree proven for your zone and add support plants that share the same hardiness range. Cold zones (3 to 5) suit hardy apples with Siberian pea shrub and currants; temperate zones (6 to 7) suit apples, pears, and peaches with false indigo and comfrey; warm zones (8 to 10) suit citrus and figs with pigeon pea and sweet potato. 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Also avoid invasive nitrogen fixers like autumn olive and Russian olive, which escape gardens and damage native habitat. Finally, keep heavy-feeding annual vegetables from crowding the root zone of a young tree. Choose companions that give more than they take, and give the central tree space to establish for its first couple of seasons." }, "name" : "What should you not plant near fruit trees?" } ] } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://growperma.com", "name" : "Home", "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://growperma.com/blog", "name" : "Blog", "position" : 2 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://growperma.com/blog/food-forest-guilds-by-climate-zone-complete-species-lists", "name" : "Food Forest Guilds by Climate Zone: Complete Species Lists", "position" : 3 } ] } ```