Rare Food Plants

PLANTS AVAILABLE IN LIMITED NUMBERS, ORDER EARLY TO AVOID MISSING OUT. THERE MAY BE SHORT DELAYS SENDING ORDERS AS PLANTS ARE STILL BEING DUG AND PACKED
Name SORRY NO PLANTS TO SA, WA & TAS	Botanical name	Other Common Names	More information Link to list of all plant information	Associated Products and information
Arrowhead GA104 3 bulbs for $5.50	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....	SORRY NO PLANTS TO SA, WA & TAS
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....	A Kama is a light-weight Asian-style sickle which is ideal for cutting mulch plants
Asparagus 'Mary Washington' GA105 4 crowns for $17.00 GA106 10 crowns for $39.50 GA110 25 crowns for $75.00 GA107 100 crowns for $240.00	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....
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 for $27.00	Includes: 1 Arrowroot tuber 5 Comfrey root cuttings Seed Packets of: Pigeon Pea Buckwheat Red Clover White Clover Linseed Lucerne 'Sequel' Lucerne 'Hunter River'		Arrowroot More info.... Comfrey More info....
Comfrey GC100 5 root cuttings for $4.50 GC101 25 root cuttings for $12.50 GC102 100 root cuttings for $39.00	Symphytum officinale	boneset	Comfrey probably has the widest range of uses in a permaculture system of any plant More info....	A Kama is a light-weight Asian-style sickle which is ideal for cutting mulch plants
Galangal 'Red' GG100 1 root set for $6.00 *organically certified*	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....	Asian Herbs and Vegetables
Galangal 'Monkey Puzzle' GG121 1 root set for $6.00 *organically certified*	Alpinia galangal	Thai ginger laos greater galangal galingale kha	Attractive foliage plant that will grow under trees in a moist position. The white roots are used like ginger in Thai cooking but with a greater fragrance. Suitable for warm temperate to tropical areas. More info....
Ginger 'Jumbo' GG102 1 root set for $6.00 *organically certified*	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....	Back to top
Horseradish GH100 3 root cuttings for $5.00 limit 1 pack per customer	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....
Jerusalem artichokes GJ100 3 tubers for $6.00	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....
Krachai / Chinese Keys GK100 1 root set for $6.00 *organically certified*	Boesenbergia 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....	SORRY NO PLANTS TO SA, WA & TAS
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....
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....	A Kama is a light-weight Asian-style sickle which is ideal for cutting mulch plants
Oca syn. New Zealand Yam GO100 3 tubers for $6.00 limit 1 pack per customer	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....	Not sure how to find something? check the
Pickerel Rush GP118 1 root set for $7.50	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....	Back to top
Potatoes 'Desiree' GP102 1kg certified seed potatoes for $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.
Potatoes 'King Edward' GP101 1kg certified seed potatoes for $7.50	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......
Potatoes 'Nicola' GP105 1kg certified seed potatoes for $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 PLANTS TO SA, WA & TAS
Potatoes 'Kipfler' GP110 750g certified seed potatoes for $7.50	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......	Back to top
Potatoes 'Pontiac' GP106 1kg certified seed potatoes for $7.50	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 'Sebago' GP111 1kg certified seed potatoes for $7.50	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......
Potatoes 'Salad Sensation' A mixed pack of 3 different potatoes considered the best varieties for gourmet appeal and salads. Pack includes 250g Pink Fir (banana-shaped tubers, light pink skin, cream waxy flesh; hugely productive); 250g Kipfler (banana-shaped tubers, yellow skin and creamy flesh) and 250g Cranberry Red (oval tubers, shiny red skin, pink flesh) GP119 750g certified seed potatoes for $7.50	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.
Rhubarb 'Wandin Red' GR104 1 crown for $8.00	Rheum rhabarbarum		True crimson red stalks, produces all year round. Rhubarb is shade-tolerant and prefers a rich, well-drained soil. It is suitable for VIC, NSW and cooler areas of QLD. More info....	SORRY NO PLANTS TO SA, WA & TAS
Turmeric 'Madras' GT100 1 root set for $6.00 *organically certified*	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....	Turmeric flower
Waterchestnuts GW100 5 corms for $6.00	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....	Back to top
Yacon GY100 1 root set for $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....	Back to top
SORRY NO PLANTS TO SA, WA & TAS THE PLANTS LISTED BELOW ARE EITHER AVAILABLE AT A DIFFERENT TIME OF YEAR EG AUTUMN OR ARE VERY RARE and ONLY AVAILABLE ON OCCASION
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 Not currently available Available next autumn 2010	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 'Italian White' organically certified Not currently available Available next autumn 2010	Allium sativum	krathiem bawang putih bawang	Well-known bulb with flat, grey-green leaves; '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....	Garlic and Friends
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
Golden Shallots Not currently available Available next autumn 2010	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....	All the Onions 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 '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......	Back to top
Potatoes 'Pink Fir Apple' RARE Only currently available as part of the Salad Sensation Pack above	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......
Sacred Lotus Not currently available	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....
Saffron Crocus Sorry, not to SA, WA, TAS Not currently available Available next autumn 2010	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
Society Garlic Not currently available Available next autumn 2010	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
Strawberry 'Joy' Not currently available Available next autumn 2010	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....
Vetiver Grass 'Monto' Not currently available Available next December 2009	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....
West Indian Arrowroot Next availability unknown	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....
Yam 'Greater' Next availability unknown	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
Hardy Pink Waterlilies Next availability unknown	Nymphaea species		A beautiful addition to any pond, best results in full sun with a minimum depth of 18 inches. More info....	Back to top
SORRY NO PLANTS TO SA, WA & TAS

NOT TO WA, SA or TAS

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

Horseradish

Garlic Chives

Sacred Lotus

Hardy Pink Waterlilies