Rare Food Plants

A WIDE RANGE OF UNUSUAL AND PERENNIAL FOOD PLANTS ARE AVAILABLE IN SPRING (JULY - AUGUST). Preparing your planting area ahead of time is very worthwhile - for detailed growing notes, click the link next to each plant.
Name SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA & TAS	Botanical name	Other Common Names	More information Link to list of all plant information	Associated Products and information
Arrowroot GA100 1 tuber for $5.50 GA101 5 tubers for $20.00 GA108 20 tubers for $49.50	Canna edulis	Queensland arrowroot achira achera dong rieng edible canna ganyong sakhu chin zembu maraca	A clump-forming perennial plant with large bright green leaves and edible tubers More info on growing arrowroot....	A Kama is a light-weight Asian-style sickle which is ideal for cutting mulch plants SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA & TAS
Asparagus 'Mary Washington' Second year crowns GA105 4 crowns for $17.00 GA106 10 crowns for $39.50	Asparagus officinalis Purple Asparagus seed available	asparagus	Hardy and easy-to-grow gourmet food plant, does well from cooler temperate areas right through to the subtropics. These are 2nd year crowns, that will continue to produce for 20 years. 10 plants will supply a family of 4 with nutritious fresh asparagus to eat at least once a week through the spring picking season. More info on growing asparagus....
Cassava syn. Tapioca GC105 3 stem cuttings for $6.50	Manihot esculenta		A large, 3-4 m high, woody shrub with enlarged tuberous roots, very widespread food plant in the tropics and subtropics. More info on growing cassava....
Clucker Tucker Kit Perennial and/or highly nutritious plants which will provide some of the essential requirements your chickens need, improve their health and reduce your feed costs. GC104 Kit $28.00	Includes: 1 Arrowroot tuber 5 Comfrey root cuttings Seed Packets of: Buckwheat French White Millet Red Clover White Clover Linseed Lucerne 'Sequel' Lucerne 'Hunter River'		Arrowroot More info.... Comfrey More info.... More information on poultry forage
Comfrey GC100 5 root cuttings for $5.00 GC101 25 root cuttings for $15.00 GC102 100 root cuttings for $45.00	Symphytum officinale	boneset	Comfrey probably has the widest range of uses in a permaculture system of any plant More info on growing comfrey ....	A Kama is a light-weight Asian-style sickle which is ideal for cutting mulch plants SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA & TAS
Galangal 'Red' GG100 1 root set for $6.50	Alpinia galangal	Thai ginger laos greater galangal galingale kha	Attractive foliage plant that will grow under trees in a moist position. The roots have a distinctive reddish colouring and are used like ginger in Thai cooking but with a greater fragrance. Suitable for warm temperate to tropical areas. More info on growing galangal....
Ginger 'Jumbo' GG102 1 root set for $6.50	Zingiber officinale	keong khing gung halia jahe luya shooga	Very easy to grow for a year round supply in frost-free areas. We plant in spring & harvest in autumn to avoid our cold winter. It is a shade-loving perennial herb native to the tropics & likes moisture More info on growing ginger....	Back to top Asian Herbs and Vegetables
Horseradish GH100 3 root cuttings for $6.50	Amoracia rusticana		Deep rooted perennial; the roots are dug in winter and used as flavouring and to make sauce. Suited to temperate and subtropical areas. More info on growing horseradish....
Horseradish Tree syn. Drumstick Tree Sorry, sold out	Moringa spp.	Drumstick Tree Ben Tree Miracle Tree Moringa	A hardy shrubby tree with fern-like leaves and white, fragrant flowers. The pungent roots are used as a substitute for horseradish; young leaves are eaten as cooked greens and the immature pods are cooked like okra. Suitable for subtropical and tropical areas. More info on growing horseradish tree....	SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA & TAS
Jerusalem artichokes GJ100 3 tubers for $6.50 SPECIAL GJ101 12 tubers for $15.00	Helianthus tuberosus	sunchoke topinambour	A very hardy, easy to grow tuber that can be cooked like potatoes, it does best in well-drained soils. it is especially good for diabetics as it contains no starch. Suited to temperate climates but still produces well in the subtropics. More info on growing artichokes....	Back to top
Krachai / Chinese Keys Sorry, sold out	Boesenbergia rotunda formerly P. pandurata	RARE	This rhizome, belonging to the ginger family, is widely cultivated in Thailand for its aromatic, spicy flavour. It is eaten raw in salads, added to soups and curries especially those made of seafood. Suitable for subtropical and tropical areas. More info on growing krachai....	SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA & TAS
Lemongrass 'East Indian' GL104 5 root sets for $9.50 GL105 15 root sets for $23.00	Cymbopogon flexuosus	ta krai tanglad serai sereh remon gurasu xiang mao cao zabalin sloeuk krey xa	Less commonly grown lemongrass; it is a taller, to 1.5m, a more vigorous plant with deep purple stem bases. It produces an attractive purplish seedhead in most areas. Used mainly for herb tea and mulch production. It is resistant to the rust that plagues West Indian Lemongrass. Suitable for warm temperate to tropical areas. More info on growing....	A Kama is a light-weight Asian-style sickle which is ideal for cutting mulch plants
Lemongrass 'West Indian' GL100 5 root sets for $9.50 GL103 15 root sets for $23.00	Cymbopogon citratus	ta krai tanglad serai sereh remon gurasu xiang mao cao zabalin sloeuk krey xa	This is the commonly grown lemongrass in Australia; the thickened stem bases are used in Thai cooking; it is a good source of Vit. A. It grows as a grass-like clumps to 1 m. Suitable for warm temperate to tropical areas. More info on growing....	SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA & TAS
Oca syn. New Zealand Yam Sorry, sold out	Oxalis tuberosa	New Zealand Yam	Oca has succulent clover-like leaves and produces a small pink delicious tuber. Suited to cooler temperate climates, tolerant of high altitudes and a wide variety of soil types. More info on growing oca.... Oca is unlikely to do well north of Sydney in coastal areas.	Not sure how to find something? check the
Pickerel Rush Sorry, sold out	Pontederia cordata		A hardy, easily grown perennial pond plant with glossy green leaves, spikes of attractive blue flowers in summer. Seeds are edible, a bit like puffed brown rice. Plant in full sun, in up to 20 cm depth of water. More info on edible waterplants....	Back to top SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA & TAS
Potatoes 'Desiree' GP102 1kg certified virus free seed potatoes $7.50	Solanum spp.		Moderately large, oval Dutch potato with rosy pink skin and scrumptious yellow flesh perfect for baking, boiling, wedges or mashing. Drought resistant. More info on growing spuds......	If space is limited and you would still like to grow your own spuds in a courtyard or on a balcony, then Planter Bags are a great idea. Check that the area is in full sun. Keep in mind that Planter Bags full of spuds are pretty heavy so a balcony would need to be capable of supporting the extra weight. SORRY NO POTATOES TO SA, WA & TAS
Potatoes 'Dutch Cream' GP108 1kg certified virus free seed potatoes $7.50	Solanum spp.		Oval tuber with a yellow skin and rich yellow, waxy flesh; holds its shape when cooked and is excellent mashed, only needing a little salt. More info on growing spuds......	SORRY NO POTATOES TO SA, WA & TAS
Potatoes 'Kipfler' GP110 750g certified seed potatoes for $8.50	Solanum spp.		German variety with long banana-shaped tubers, yellow skin and creamy-coloured flesh with a nutty flavour. Good for roasting, steaming, boiling and excellent for salads. Highly productive, produces large number of tubers. More info on growing spuds......	SORRY NO POTATOES TO SA, WA & TAS Back to top
Potatoes 'Nicola' GP105 1kg certified virus free seed potatoes $7.50	Solanum spp.		German variety with long oval tubers, smooth light yellow skin, shallow eyes and rich yellow buttery flesh. Ideal for mashing, baking, salad or boiling. Good producer, disease resistant. More info on growing spuds......	SORRY NO POTATOES TO SA, WA & TAS Back to top
Potatoes 'Ruby Lou' GP114 1kg certified virus free seed potatoes $7.50	Solanum spp.		Australian variety with oval tubers, shiny, pink skin, shallow eyes and creamy flesh. Good all-round spud, for boiling, mashing, salads, baking, very good flavour. High yielding and stores well. More info on growing spuds......	If space is limited and you would still like to grow your own spuds in a courtyard or on a balcony, then Planter Bags are a great idea. Check that the area is in full sun. Keep in mind that Planter Bags full of spuds are pretty heavy so a balcony would need to be capable of supporting the extra weight. SORRY NO POTATOES TO SA, WA & TAS
Potatoes 'Salad Sensation' A mixed pack of 3 different potatoes considered the best varieties for gourmet appeal and salads. Pack includes 250g Sapphire ; 250g Kipfler (banana-shaped tubers, yellow skin and creamy flesh) and 250g Cranberry Red (oval tubers, shiny red skin, pink flesh) GP119 750g certified virus free seed potatoes $8.50	Solanum spp.		More info on growing spuds......	If space is limited and you would still like to grow your own spuds in a courtyard or on a balcony, then Planter Bags are a great idea. Check that the area is in full sun. Keep in mind that Planter Bags full of spuds are pretty heavy so a balcony would need to be capable of supporting the extra weight. SORRY NO POTATOES TO SA, WA & TAS
SEED POTATO SPECIAL 1kg Potatoes 'Dutch Cream' 1kg Potatoes 'Nicola' 750g Potatoes 'Kipfler' GP116 2.75kg certified virus free seed potatoes $19.00 Save $4.50			See variety descriptions above More info on growing spuds......	SORRY NO POTATOES TO SA, WA & TAS
Rhubarb 'Ever Red' GR102 1 crown for $9.00	Rheum rhabarbarum		True crimson red stalks, produces all year round in some areas. Rhubarb is shade-tolerant and prefers a rich, well-drained soil. It is suitable for VIC, NSW and cooler areas of QLD. More info on growing rhubarb....
Rhubarb 'Wandin Red' GR104 1 crown for $9.00 SPECIAL GR107 2 crowns for $16.00	Rheum rhabarbarum		Deep crimson red stalks, continues to crop through the winter. Strong growing variety with thick stalks. Rhubarb is shade-tolerant and prefers a rich, well-drained soil. It is suitable for VIC, NSW and cooler areas of QLD. More info on growing rhubarb....	SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA & TAS
Turmeric 'Madras' Sorry, sold out	Curcuma domestica	Indian saffron ukon nghe wong-keong	A shade-loving hardy, perennial herb with a beautiful white flower spike. The root can be used fresh like ginger or dried and ground for curry powder. It has long been used in both Chinese and Indian medicine; recent research has shown that it is beneficial in the treatment of many different health conditions. Turmeric was traditionally called Indian saffron and it is also used as a textile dye. Suitable for warm temperate to tropical areas. More info on growing turmeric ....	Turmeric flower
Vetiver Grass 'Monto' Available as root divisions dug from established in-ground plants beginning mid-November 2010	Vetiveria zizanioides ‘Monto’	Khus khus	A dense, clumping perennial grass, to 1.5 m in height, native in India and Ceylon. ‘Monto’ is a sterile (non-seed producing) variety specially selected not to become weedy. More info....
Waterchestnuts GW100 5 corms for $6.50 GW103 25 corms for $25.00	Eleocharis dulcis	apulid haeo chin cu nang ma tai ohkuru guai	A rush-like aquatic plant to 1m tall, best planted in an old bath or laundry tub 2/3 full of rich organic matter (5 corms is suitable for this). It is a delicious, nutritious easy-to-grow vegetable, which can be grown Australia-wide. More info on growing waterchestnuts.... More info on edible waterplants....	Back to top SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA & TAS
Yacon GY100 1 root set $9.50	Smallanthus sonchifolius syn. Polymnia sonchifolia	Peruvian ground apple strawberry jicama Bolivian sunroot llacon sweet-root ground pear	Hardy plant to 2m high, yielding sweet, juicy tubers that can be eaten raw or cooked. One of the easiest-to-grow vegetables we have come across! Suitable for temperate, subtropical and tropical areas. More info on growing yacon....	Back to top
Yam 'Greater' syn. Winged Yam, Chinese Yam Sorry, sold out	Discorea alata	RARE PLANT Suitable for hot, humid areas.	Vigorous twining vine that produces a large tuber weighing many kilos. This is a staple food plant in Asia and PNG. More info....	Not sure how to find something? check the Back to top
Hardy Pink Waterlilies Available late spring 2010	Nymphaea species		A beautiful addition to any pond, best results in full sun with a minimum depth of 18 inches. More info....	SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA & TAS
West Indian Arrowroot Available late spring 2010	Maranta arundinacea		Completely different plant to Queensland Arrowroot, looks similar to Turmeric in leaf shape. This is the commercial source of Arrowroot flour. Simply grate the root to thicken any meal, or steam as a crunchy tuber. More info on growing west indian arrowroot....
SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA, SA & TAS THE PLANTS LISTED BELOW ARE EITHER AVAILABLE AT A DIFFERENT TIME OF YEAR e.g. AUTUMN OR ARE VERY RARE and ONLY AVAILABLE ON OCCASION
SHALLOTS, GARLIC AND POTATOES ARE AVAILABLE IN AUTUMN (MARCH - APRIL). THIS IS A MAJOR PLANTING TIME FOR THESE PLANTS IN WARMER AREAS OF AUSTRALIA, INCLUDING QLD, NT AND THE NORTH COAST OF NSW.
Arrowhead Next availability unknown	Sagittaria sagittifolia	duck potato kuwai chi gu swamp potato	A hardy waterplant, with attractive arrow-shaped leaves, suitable for pot culture in small ponds. It produces a tasty, edible tuber, which was a staple food of the American Indians. It is suitable for temperate and subtropical areas. More info on growing arrowhead.... More info on edible waterplants....	SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA, SA & TAS
Brazilian Spinach Next availability unknown	Sorry, no information sheet available	RARE PLANT Suitable for hot, humid areas.	Low growing perennial leaf vegetable, which forms a neat mound. It is used cooked as spinach substitute. Suitable for subtropical & tropical areas only. This is a good tasting wet-season green leafy vegetable.
Elephant Garlic organically certified OGA Available autumn 2011	Allium ampeloprasum (Ampeloprasum Group)	Russian Garlic Levant Garlic	Elephant garlic has a mild, sweet flavour that is somewhere between garlic and onion. Cloves are large, easy to peel and can be eaten raw, sliced into salads. Good garlic for warmer, subtropical areas as it is harder to hot conditions. More info....	great garlic press!
Garlic Chives Next availability unknown Available as seed	Allium tuberosum	Chinese chives kau tsoi	Flat leaf variety of chives with a garlic flavour, attractive white flowers; leaves and green flower buds used in Asian cooking. Suitable for temperate, subtropical and tropical areas. More info....	Asian Herbs and Vegetables
Garlic 'Glen Large' Next availability unknown
Garlic 'Monaro Purple' organically certified Available autumn 2011 There is an average of 10 planting pieces (large cloves) per bulb.	Allium sativum	krathiem bawang putih bawang	A hardneck or top-setting garlic variety which usually produces a flower stem in early summer. It is also called a ‘rocambole’ variety from the habit the flower stem has of looping over on itself to produce a distinctive twist. Worth buying just for cooking, this organic garlic has a sweet, nutty flavour. Monaro Purple is mainly suitable for cooler areas. More info....	SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA, SA & TAS Garlic and Friends
Garlic 'Italian White' organically certified Available autumn 2011 There is an average of 11 planting pieces (large cloves) per bulb.	Allium sativum	krathiem bawang putih bawang	'Italian White’ is a soft-neck type with creamy white skin, medium to large bulb with up to 17 cloves per bulb. Worth buying just for cooking as this organic garlic has a superb flavour and will keep for many months. There is an average of 23 bulbs to 1kg. More info....
Golden Shallots Available autumn 2011	Allium cepa var. aggregatum		Australians are often confused about what a shallot actually is, as we commonly refer to spring onions this way. Elsewhere in the world the word ‘shallot’ is only used to describe this small bulb with its superb, delicate flavour. These shallots are long keeping & suitable for NSW, VIC and cooler areas of QLD. More info....	Looking for spring onions? Available as seed
Mushroom Plant Next availability unknown	Rungia spp	RARE PLANT Suitable for hot, humid areas.	Low growing perennial clumping plant native to New Guinea, the nutritious leaves and stems are eaten raw in salads or cooked in stir-fry. Suitable for subtropical and tropical areas only. More info....
Peruvian Parsnip Next availability unknown	Arracacia xanthorrhiza	apio criollo arracacha arrecate	More info....
Potatoes 'King Edward' Next availability unknown	Solanum spp.		Oval to pear-shaped tubers, smooth creamy skin, with pink blotches around shallow eyes, white flesh. Delicious flavour and firm waxy texture. Ideal for boiling & baking. More info on growing spuds......	SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA, SA & TAS Back to top
Potatoes 'Pink Fir Apple' RARE Next availability unknown	Solanum spp.		Long banana-shaped tubers, light pink skin, cream waxy flesh, distinctive flavour. Considered to be the world’s best salad spud, also great for roasting, chipping & wedges. Hugely productive. More info on growing spuds......	SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA, SA & TAS
Potatoes 'Pontiac' Available autumn 2011	Solanum spp.		Medium round tubers, smooth bright red skin, medium deep eyes and white flesh. Good general-purpose spud for mashing, baking, boiling & roasting. High yielding and drought tolerant More info on growing spuds......
Potatoes 'Toolangi Delight' Not currently available	Solanum spp.		Round tuber with distinctive purple skin with smooth white flesh. Excellent steamed or mashed and makes the best Potato & Leek soup imaginable, dissolving to a creamy consistency. Also recommended for gnocchi, as it absorbs less flour than other varieties. More info on growing spuds......
Potatoes 'Sebago'	Solanum spp.		Potato introduced in the USA in 1938. Oval tuber with shallow eyes, smooth, white skin. Good for boiling and baking, with no darkening after cooking. Good yield. More info on growing spuds......
Red Shallots Available autumn 2011	Allium cepa var. aggregatum		Red shallots look similar to golden shallots, but have a reddish skin and pale, purple- pink flesh. The flesh is sweeter, with a subtler flavour than other members of the onion family. They are preferred in Asian cooking, particularly Thai. Generally they appear hardier to subtropical climates than golden shallots. These shallots are suitable for NSW, VIC and southern areas of QLD. More info....	Looking for spring onions? Available as seed
Sacred Lotus Available early summer 2010	Nelumbo nucifera		A spreading water plant with beautiful white scented flowers blushed with pink. It needs a good-sized pond in full sun as the leaves can be up to 80 cm across. Besides being very decorative this is a highly productive plant with leaves, stems, rhizomes and seeds all being edible. The young rhizomes taste a bit like artichokes & are often eaten in Asian meals without being recognised as lotus.	Sacred Lotus can spread rapidly if planted in a dam and take most of it over, it is better planted in a large container in a pond, where it can be managed. More info....
Society Garlic Not currently available	Tulbaghia violacea		Attractive lilac flowers and strap-like leaves are edible. Ideal edging plant. It is suitable for temperate, subtropical and tropical areas. More info....	Back to top
Saffron Crocus Available autumn 2011	Crocus sativus		The flower stamens are the world’s costliest spice. It grows as a small bulb with purple flowers, each with three stamens. Easy to grow, in dry Mediterranean conditions (VIC, SA, drier areas of NSW). It is unlikely to be successful in humid, subtropical areas, such as coastal zones north of Sydney and QLD but if you want to give it a try, plant it in a terracotta pot that can be kept fairly dry.	Not sure how to find something? check the
Strawberry 'Joy' Certified virus free runners Available autumn 2011			Fragaria spp This is an ideal strawberry for warmer climates. ‘Joy’ is a Queensland developed cultivar that is productive over a long period. Berries are large, glossy with a round shape; fruit is very sweet with a low acidity. It is considered to be one of the best tasting cultivars grown in Australia. Certified disease free plants. More info....	Keep an eye out for slugs & snails in the strawberry patch More info on snails.... Snail & Slug Products
Tahitian Spinach syn. Celery Stem Taro Next availability unknown	Colocasia esculenta	RARE PLANT Suitable for hot, humid areas.	This particular taro was developed for its yield of edible tasty leaves & stems rather than its roots. More info....
Tree Onions Next availability unknown		walking onions Egyptian onions topset onions	More info....
SORRY NO PLANTS TO WA & TAS

NOT TO WA or TAS

SORRY but due to quarantine restrictions between Australian States no plants can be ordered by residents of WA and TAS. These restrictions are very important as they prevent the spread of plant pests and diseases.

Horseradish

Hardy Pink Waterlilies

Garlic Chives

Sacred Lotus