It’s an exciting time for the many Australian gardeners exploring the ever-increasing array of bush-food plants available through mainstream plant retailers.
There’s a handful of species that are very well established in Australian horticulture such as the macadamia nut, with many named cultivars available as grafted plants. However, a number of other species are now becoming easier to find as nurseries master their propagation and growing requirements.
Most of the species we look at here are ornamental as well as edible and can be planted into general garden beds if you want to save the vegetable patch for less attractive edible species.
It’s important to acknowledge our First Nations people and their traditional knowledge of the Australian flora, as they have been using it for tens of thousands of years in a wide variety of ways, not least for food. By acknowledging the culture of the original inhabitants and educating ourselves about the subject, we can all get involved in the reconciliation process in a practical and positive way.
Here are some commonly available species from which to choose the best fit for your garden conditions and culinary desires.
FLINDERS ISLAND CELERY (APIUM INSULARE)
The picturesque island that sits between Tasmania and the mainland provides one of the rising stars of the bush-food world. A relative of common celery (Apium graveolens), Flinders Island celery is also an attractive garden plant with shiny dark-green fern-like foliage that can be used as a herb, like parsley, or tossed into a salad to add its distinctive celery-like flavour.
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Esta historia es de la edición March - April 2021 de Good Organic Gardening.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Glamour girls
EVERYONE LOVES A HARDWORKING ISA BROWN BUT GET A LOAD OF THESE CHIC CHICKENS AND FEATHERED FASHIONISTAS
FRIED VEG
IT’S POSSIBLE TO ENJOY A FRY-UP IN A DELICIOUSLY HEALTHY WAY BY TURNING TO SOME FRY-FRIENDLY PLANTS
BEYOND BIG RED
TOMATOES COME IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES AND COLOURS, SO NOW’S THE TIME TO EXPLORE THEIR INFINITE VARIETY
EVEN MORE TROPPO
ANOTHER SENSATIONAL SIX TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR GARDEN — OR YOUR FRUIT SALAD
LET'S STALK RHUBARB
JUST AS TOMATO IS A FRUIT USED AS A VEGETABLE, RHUBARB IS A VEGETABLE COMMONLY CONSUMED AS A DESSERT
FOOD OF THE GODS
THE FLESHY FRUIT OF THE FICUS WAS MUHAMMAD’S FAVOURITE AND BUDDHA FOUND ENLIGHTENMENT UNDER A FIG TREE
MAKING GOOD BETTER
THE IRREPRESSIBLE TV PRESENTER WRITES ABOUT HOW SHE, WITH HUSBAND ANTON AND DAUGHTER FRIDA, TURNED A STEEP HOBART BLOCK INTO A PRODUCTIVE GARDEN
True lily
MANY PLANTS ARE CALLED LILIES BUT IT’S THE MEMBERS OF THE GENUS LILIUM THAT ARE THE REAL DEAL
SALTY BUDS
THE CAPER BUSH PRODUCES TWO DISTINCT BUT EQUALLY DELICIOUS, TANGY MORSELS: CAPERS AND CAPERBERRIES
Ducks on duty
BUSY, VIGILANT, HARD ON GARDEN PESTS AND GENEROUS LAYERS — YOU’VE GOTTA LOVE A DUCK!