Bush Tucker Plant List – Gaias Organic Gardens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raspberry Jam Wattle – Acacia Acuminata

• Edible seeds can be grounded into flour and baked into cakes
• Raspberry Jam Wattle flowers heavily in Spring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sea Parsley – Apium prostratum var. prostratum

• Use it as a garnish or to flavor soups
• We recommend growing it in a tall pot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Midyim Berries – Austromyrtus dulcis

• May be eaten fresh or used in pies and preserves.
• This dense, bushy plant does best in full sun or part shade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karkalla – Carpobrotus virescens (Bain)

• The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked like a vegetables
• Can tolerates both drought and salt, and is somewhat frost-resistant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finger Lime – Citrus australasica

• Great for summer drinks and desserts.
• Finger Limes thrive in dappled light as well as full sun. In cooler climates, a partly shaded north-facing site is preferred.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ooray – Davidsonia pruriens

• Beautifully tart plum-like berries rich in antioxidants and vitamins.
• This is a medium-sized tropical ornamental tree, growing to between 4 and 8 metres.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chocolate Lily – Arthropodium strictum

• Fragrant flowers are also edible, and may be added to salads.
• Grow in full sun or part shade in a garden bed or pot at least 20cm deep allowing room for the tubers to develop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warrine – Dioscorea hastifolia

• Great ingredient in a variety of savoury and sweet dishes, like stews, pies, curries, and tarts.
• For best results, grow it in a loamy medium and keep mulched.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruby Saltbush – Enchylaena tomentosa

• Berries may be eaten raw or soaked in water to make a sweet tea
• It prefers full sun but will also grow in dappled shade. Can survive saline soil, sandy soil, long droughts and even some frost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bloodroot – Haemodorum spicatum

• Best baked or roasted, and may be pounded and dried and used as a spice.
• Bloodroot is summer dormant and slow growing. Takes a while to produce a decent bulb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Muntries – Kunzea pomifera

• Perfect for eating raw in salads and cheese platters, or cooked in jams.
• Avoid disturbing the roots and grow your muntrie upright on a low trellis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Tongue – Melastoma affine

• Berries can be picked and eaten directly off the shrub.
• Grows fast, reaching up to 3m in height. It produces no nectar, but plenty of pollen, and will attract bees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Native River Mint – Mentha australis

• Used for sauces, salads, dressing, dips, roasts, desserts, teas and cocktails
• It grows relatively fast and will need regular pruning to keep tidy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gumbi Gumbi – Pittosporum angustifolium

• Great as tea, often touted for its health benefits
• For best results in a home garden, choose a well-drained loamy soil or potting mix, located in full sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Youlk – Platysace deflexa

• Makes a tasty ingredient for salads, stews, pies, gratin and cakes.
• Grow your Youlk in full sun or part shade, in loamy soil, and water generously during summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bush Basil – Plectranthus graveolens

• Scatter fresh leaves on pizza or caprese and salad.
• Though it will tolerate sandy soil and low nutrient levels, a loamy potting mix with plenty of organic matter will yield a better harvest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illawarra Plum – Podocarpus elatus

• A compliment for chilli, garlic, sauces and marinades.
• You’ll need both male and female trees to produce fruit. To increase your chances of pollination, best planting several plants or use as a hedge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sea Purslane – Sesuvium portulacastrum

• Great for pickling as this is one salty succulent.
• It’s a low-maintenance plant. A fast grower, we don’t recommend growing it alongside other herbs and veggies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seablite – Suaeda australis

• As a cooked vegetable, they bear resemblance to young bean shoots in texture.
• Seablite is a fast grower that prefers moist soil. Tolerates a wide range of pH and thrives in saline conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tucker Bush Cherry – Syzygium austral

• They may be eaten freshly picked from the tree, or made into jams, jellies, muffins, biscuits, and cakes.
• Flowering begins in late-Spring/early-Summer with clusters of white fluffy flowers appearing across the branches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WA Samphire – Tecticornia lepidosperma

• Enjoy these raw, sautéed or quickly blanched and tossed with olive oil and lemon.
• Harvesting the tender new shoots will offer the best flavour without compromising plant growth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warrigal Greens – Tetragonia tetragonioides

• You can use Warrigal Greens the way you’d use spinach, chard, silverbeet and bok choy.
• This plant may die back during winter, but may revive itself in the spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fraser Island Apple – Acronychia imperforate

• Try turning them into syrups, jams or sauces, or drying them like raisins
• Fraser Island Apple is much loved by birds, so be sure to harvest early and often to avoid disappointment!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maroon Bush – Scaevola spinescens

• Consume as tea, the leaves, flowers and berries of this plant can be simmered.
• Maroon Bush is a hardy evergreen similar in appearance to rosemary and preferring similar conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

White Aspen – Acronychia oblongifolia

• Enjoy them fresh on their own, or add them to salads and side dishes
• With adequate care and pruning, you can easily grow it as a screen, a hedge or as an edible balcony plant in a large pot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Back Australian Ginger – Alpinia caerulea ‘Atherton’

• Both the spicy root and bright blue fruit may be eaten. The ginger-scented rhizome may be used, like other ginger roots.
• Prefers a constantly moist soil. Fertilise in Spring and mulch well before Summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bignay – Antidesma bunius

• Bignay leaves are tart and may be used to flavour rice, salads, vegetables dishes.
• This medium tree does well in full sun or part shade, and can handle a range of soil types.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Native Gardenia – Atractocarpus fitzalanii

• May be enjoyed raw on their own or used in salads, tarts, cakes and other desserts.
• Be sure to shelter it from strong winds and the harsh afternoon sun. It prefers warmth and moisture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandpaper Fig – Ficus coronate

• They can be eaten fresh (after removing the furry skin) or dried, or cooked into cakes, pies, biscuits.
• It tolerates cold climates, poor soils, low light, heavy pruning and some neglect, however it is somewhat frost sensitive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small-leaved Tamarind – Diploglottis campbellii

• Recipe favourites include jams, jellies, sauces, fruit chutneys, spreads and coulis.
• This plant is a prolific fruiter, capable of bearing many kilos in a harvest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boobialla – Prostanthera rotundifolia

• Aromatic, juniper-like qualities makes Boobialla an exciting local botanical for essential oils and gin.
• We’d caution against foraging for these fruits, as unlicensed picking of native plants is unsustainable and illegal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waterbush – Myoporum montanum

• Like tomatoes, apples and rhubarb, some parts make great tucker while other parts may be harmful in large quantities or if prepared incorrectly.
• Waterbush is a hardy, woody plant that’s adaptable to most soils and growing conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Native Mulberry – Pipturus argenteus

• They are soft and juicy, with a sweet and delicate flavor
• Native Mulberry trees are dioecious, meaning they may be male or female. They prefer warm climates, full sun and soils with good drainage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Native Oregano – Myoporum insulare ‘Prostrate’

• A strongly aromatic herb, Native Oregano is a superior native substitute for common oregano.
• Though Native Oregano will tolerate light frosts and full sun, it prefers temperate, partly shaded conditions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Native Thyme – Prostanthera incisa

• Native Thyme boasts a more complex flavour than Mentha mints. With hints of pepper and earthy tones.
• Prefers warmth and moisture. Grow in full sun or part-shade, and water generously in Summer.

Notes: The plants are seasonal and availability changes monthly

Acknowledgment:

We would like to thank Tucker Bush tuckerbush.com.au for their assistance with this resource.