Online Edible Plants - Agati to Finger Lime

Agati Aloe Vera Asparagus Baby Sunrose Bay Tree Blueberry Cape Gooseberry Capsicum Cassava Ceylon Hill Gooseberry Cherry Guava Chilli Chinese Artichoke Chinese Potato Citrus Rangpur Lime Citrus Tahitian Lime Coffee Arabica Cossack Pineapple
Curry Leaf Tree Dianthus Dragonfruit Elderberry Elephant Garlic Feijoa Fig Finger Lime

Preparing your planting area ahead of time is very worthwhile - for detailed growing notes, click the link next to each plant.
List of all plant growing information

Now available for planting: Pineapple, Finger Lime, Sweet Potato Plants and Full List.

Agati H

UT
Sesbania grandiflora
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. vegetable hummingbird, agathi, West Indian pea
Agati is a fast growing, tropical legume tree to 10 m high with beautiful, large white flowers. It does best in warm humid areas and will not tolerate temperatures below 10°C or frost. It is useful as a shade or nurse tree for other crops, such as black pepper. The leaves can be cut as animal (ruminant) fodder but avoid cutting the main stem. The young leaves, flowers and tender pods contain 25-30% crude protein and are favourite Asian vegetables. Remove the centre of the flowers before eating to reduce bitterness. Suitable for subtropical and tropical areas; unsuitable for temperate areas.

More growing information...
Provided as tubestock.
GA123
GA124Save $1.90

Available as seed...

Aloe Vera UT
Syn. Aloe barbadensis, Aloe indica, Aloe perfoliata var. vera
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. Chinese Aloe, Indian Aloe, True Aloe, Barbados Aloe, Burn Aloe, First Aid Plant
Aloe vera is a succulent plant grown commercially in Queensland for use in skincare products. It is thought to have originated in northern Africa. It is a perennial plant with narrow, curving, grey-green leaves with small spikes along the leaf margins. The yellow tubular flowers appear in summer and it forms suckers at the base. It grows to approx. 60 - 100 cm tall. Although the plants can cope with dry conditions they prefer regular watering. Good drainage is essential. Position from full sun to partial shade. In cold, wet or frosty climates they are best grown in a large terracotta pot and moved to a sheltered position in winter. Aloe vera has been used medicinally since biblical times, generally as an ointment for burns, cuts and rashes, as well as in various skincare preparations. The part used is the thick, mucilaginous gel inside the leaf.

Provided in mini pots.
GA125
GA126Save $1.90

Arrowroot and 'Rojo' Arrowroot tubers are available.

Asparagus 'Mary Washington' UT
Asparagus officinalis
Not to Norfolk Island, TAS or WA
Hardy and easy-to-grow gourmet food plant, does well from cooler temperate areas right through to the subtropics. 10 plants will supply a family of 4 with nutritious fresh asparagus to eat at least once a week through the spring picking season. These are 2nd year crowns, that will continue to produce for 20 years. More info on growing asparagus...
GA105
GA112
GA113
Please give us a call for larger quantity discounts.

Asparagus 'Purple' UT
Asparagus officinalis
Not to Norfolk Island, TAS or WA
'Purple Passion' asparagus has large, deep-burgundy spears which are very tender with a mild, nutty flavour when cooked. The spears are much more tender than green asparagus because the vascular bundles have less lignin per spear, which make the spears less stringy. This allows the cook to use the entire spear with very little waste. It also has a 20% higher sugar content. Because of this extra sweetness, this vegetable is often eaten raw. Some restaurants like to garnish salads with purple asparagus. More info on growing asparagus...
Provided as 1 crown.
GA120
GA140

Provided in mini pots.
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
GA136
GA137Save $1.90

Asparagus seed available

Baby Sunrose

UT
Aptenia cordifolia
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. heartleaf iceplant.
A spreading, drought-tolerant, succulent groundcover in the iceplant family with small dark pink flowers and bright green leaves. The leaves and flowers can be used as a salad herb and are reputed to be eaten by poultry so it might make a good chook forage in drier areas. As a groundcover for fire-prone zones it is hard to beat, as a blow torch won't set it alight. Butterflies and bees enjoy the flowers. It has some weed potential in southern states so check with your local Landcare before planting. To avoid garden escapes try growing it in a hanging basket.
Provided in mini pots.
GB113
GB114Save $1.90

Bay Tree UT
Laurus nobilis
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. sweet bay, true laurel, Grecian Laurel, laurel tree.
An aromatic, evergreen tree to 7.5 m in height with green, glossy leaves and small, pale yellow flowers. Bay trees are native to the Mediterranean region. It is the source of bay leaves used in cooking; leaves can be used fresh or dried. It can be successfully clipped and grown in a large container as an ornamental shrub. It prefers a position in full sun but will grow in partial shade. The laurel tree is dioecious, with male and female flowers on different plants and will take many years to flower. It is suited to temperate and subtropical climates and is hardy to cold to -5°C. It is tolerant of wide range of soil types but prefers good drainage. It grows well with little care and attention.
Provided in mini pots.
GB115
GB125Save $1.90

Blueberry 'Gulf Coast' UT
Vaccinium spp.
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
'Gulf Coast' is a southern highbush blueberry that is a very productive and reliable self-pollinating variety. The abundance of large, delicious, sweet berries ripen throughout late winter and spring. It requires very little winter chilling and will produce fruit in subtropical, tropical and mildly temperate area. It is an upright bush that makes an attractive fruiting hedge. More info on growing blueberries...
Provided in mini pots.
GB126
GB127Save $1.90

Blueberry 'Sunshine Blue' UT
Vaccinium spp. hybrid
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
'Sunshine Blue' is a low-chill variety suitable for most climate zones; it needs only 150 hours of winter chill. It grows as a semi-dwarf evergreen bush to 1 metre high and fruits heavily in summer. One of the most ornamental of the blueberries, producing hot pink flowers during late spring, so it makes an attractive fruiting hedge or looks good in containers. It is self-pollinating. More info on growing blueberries...
Provided as tubestock.
GB107
GB108Save $1.90

Cape Gooseberry UT
Physalis edulis syn. P. peruviana
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. Golden Berry
A short-lived perennial to 1 metre high, producing a large quantity of sweet, juicy, marble-sized golden yellow fruit encased in a lantern. Eat fresh or as jam. Cape Gooseberry is prone to pest problems in the subtropics so is best grown in more temperate areas.

Provided in 100 mm pots.
GC129

Available as seed...

Capsicum 'Perennial' UT
Capsicum annuum
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
'Perennial' is a tall, hardy, productive, bush capsicum that can live up to 5 years in the tropics. The fruit are 3 cm by 8 cm long and taper to a blunt point, ripening from green to red. It is resistant to wilt and can also be used as rootstock for grafting other capsicum varieties. Days to harvest: 70.

Available as seed...

Cassava UT
Manihot esculenta
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. Tapioca
A large, 3 to 4 metre high, woody shrub with enlarged tuberous roots, very widespread food plant in the tropics and subtropics. Suitable for subtropical to tropical areas. More info on growing cassava...
Provided as tubestock.
GC108
GC121Save $1.90

Ceylon Hill Gooseberry UT
Rhodomyrtus tomentosa
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. Hill Gooseberry, Ceylon Hill Cherry
A small, hardy, evergreen, ornamental shrub in the Myrtaceae family native to India, south east Asia and the Philippines. It does best in warm temperate, subtropical or cool tropical areas, growing between 1 to 2 m high. It has deep rose-pink flowers followed by small purple berries that have few seeds. It needs 2 bushes minimum for pollination. The berries can be eaten fresh or used in jams. The bush is frost hardy and salt tolerant. Useful as a fruiting hedge, planted as poultry forage or as a container plant. Prefers a position in full sun, in a slightly acidic sandy soil.
Weed Warning: Ceylon Hill Gooseberry is not listed as a weed in NSW or QLD but it has the potential to be spread by birds, netting is recommended.
Provided as tubestock.
GC167
GC168Save $1.90

Cherry Guava syn. Strawberry Guava UT
Psidium littorale syn. P. cattleianum
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Cherry Guava is an evergreen shrub with white flowers that bloom in late spring. Fruit is round, plum-sized, deep wine-red, with a very thin skin. The flesh is juicy with a sweet flavour. Cherry guavas dislike low temperatures but will tolerate some frost and are hardier to cold than the common guava. The fruit can be eaten raw and is high in Vitamin C; it is also used in jellies, drinks and jams. The plant is useful as a fruiting hedge, poultry forage and windbreak. More info on growing cherry guava...
Provided as tubestock.
GC111
GC140Save $1.90

Available as seed...

Cherry Guava 'Gold' UT
Psidium littorale syn. P. cattleianum
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Cherry Guava 'Gold' is a less common form of cherry guava but otherwise grows in a similar way. It is an evergreen shrub with white flowers that bloom in late spring. Fruit is round, plum-sized, golden yellow, with a very thin skin. The flesh is juicy with a sweet flavour. Cherry guavas dislike low temperatures but will tolerate some frost and are hardier to cold than the common guava. The fruit can be eaten raw and is high in Vitamin C; it is also used in jellies, drinks and jams. The plant is useful as a fruiting hedge, poultry forage and windbreak. More info on growing cherry guava...
Provided as tubestock.
GC170
GC171Save $1.90

Available as seed...

Chilli 'Bishops Crown' UT
Capsicum baccatum
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. 'Christmas Bell', 'Bishop's Hat'
A bushy chilli plant 75 cm high with unusual-shaped fruit. Very hardy, it will grow from the tropics right through to Tassie. It is highly productive and tolerant of poor soils. The fleshy fruit is spicy, crisp and fruity so is a good choice for chilli sauce. Days to harvest: 90 days for green fruit; 100 days for red. Scoville heat scale 5,000 - 30,000 units.

Available as seed...

Chilli 'Rocoto Tree' H UT
Capsicum pubescens
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. 'Hotlips', 'Locoto', 'Manzano'
This is a true heirloom, having been grown for thousands of years by the farmers of Bolivia and Peru. A 'must have' plant for anyone who likes really hot chillies, it grows well from the tropics right through to Tassie (in a suitably sheltered position). It is considered the most cold-tolerant of the chillies. The fruit is produced on a sturdy, wide, bushy, perennial shrub up to 2 - 3 m tall. It has small, dark purple flowers and dark green leaves with a purplish tinge. Highly productive, it crops nearly year round with fruit that start as green turning purple and then glossy bright red when fully ripe, the seeds are black. It is hardy and pest resistant including fruit fly but like all chillies, sensitive to heavy frost. Fruit ranges from medium hot to extremely hot depending on the weather. The fruit is fleshy like a capsicum so is a good choice for chilli sauce.
Days to harvest: 95 days for green fruit; 130 days for red.
Scoville heat scale 100,000 - 300,000 units.

Available as seed...

Scoville Scale
The Scoville scale is a measure of the 'hotness' of a chilli pepper or anything made from chilli peppers, i.e. Tabasco sauce (2,500 - 5,000 Scoville). The scale is named after Wilbur Scoville who developed the test in 1912.

Chinese Artichoke UT
Stachys affinis
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. artichoke betony, crosne.
The tuber is eaten as a root vegetable and is creamy white and tender with a nutty, artichoke-like flavour. The tubers grow to 6 cm long and have a fascinating spiral shape, like a sea shell. The plant is easy to grow but the yield of tubers can be small and the plant spreads aggressively. We recommend you use large planter bags.
Provided as tubestock.
GC127
GC128Save $1.90

Chinese Potato UT
Plectranthus rotundifolius syn. Solenostemon rotundifolius
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. Hausa Potato, Native or Country Potato in Africa
This unusual and rare herbaceous perennial plant produces egg-shaped edible tubers which can be cooked just like a potato although the flavour is slightly sweeter. It is surprisingly easy to grow, good to eat and nutritious. It is suited to fertile, moist soils in full sun although it will grow in partial shade. It will also grow well in a large pot, which is recommended, as it can become weedy. Plants take 5 - 7 months from planting to harvesting the tubers, the tubers deteriorate rapidly if left in the soil too long. Chinese Potato is native to the moist tropics so does best in warm climates. In very hot climates it will do better with shade protection. It is propagated from tubers although it can be grown from cuttings. Suitable for warm temperate, tropical and subtropical areas.
Provided as tubers (3).
GC196

Provided as tubestock.
GC179
GC180Save $1.90

Citrus Rangpur Lime UT
Citrus x limonia
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. Mandarin Lime, Canton Lemon, Sylhet Lime, Hime-lemon, limão-capeta
The Rangpur Lime is a fast growing, hardy, vigorous tree to 4 metres high with small, aromatic purple flowers. It produces yellowish-orange fruit about the size of a mandarin, with a smooth, thin peel and tart, juicy orange flesh. It is a cross between a citron and mandarin and the juice has a floral lime fragrance. The leaves are scented like kaffir lime and can be used in cooking. The fruit can be used in marmalade, jam, marinades, lime butter, candied peel and to make a lime syrup. It has also been used to flavour gin - 'Tanqueray Rangpur'.
Provided as tubestock.
GC193
GC194Save $1.90

Citrus Tahitian Lime UT
Citrus latifolia
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Easily our favourite citrus! If you only have room for one fruit tree, this would be our top choice. The seedless, juicy, thin skinned fruit have a great flavour and an endless range of uses in the kitchen. The hardy trees to 3 - 5 metres tall, tolerate light frost and will grow as far south as southern Victoria, in a sheltered microclimate. A fruit crop is carried from mid-autumn through to late winter on nearly thornless branches. Fruit can be picked from pale green right through to the fully ripe pale yellow. Trees are self-pollinated and suit backyards and orchards. They can be pruned to 2 metres high for use as a large container plant.
Provided as tubestock.
GC176
GC177Save $1.90

Coffee Arabica UT
Coffea arabica
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
An ornamental, glossy leaved, evergreen shrub that covers itself in fragrant small white flowers. Following the flowers, red berries appear which are harvested for the coffee beans inside. Coffee is a hardy plant that will grow in partial shade in any fertile, well drained soil. It does best in subtropical and relatively frost-free temperate climates so will grow along most of the eastern coastline of Australia. It is useful as an understorey plant, as a hedge or in a large container. It will also grow as an indoor plant but is unlikely to fruit.
Provided as tubestock.
GC173
GC174Save $1.90

Comfrey plants are available.

Cossack Pineapple
Physalis pruinosa
Syn. Ground Cherry
A true heirloom vegetable, recorded as early as 1837. It is a warm season, frost tender perennial, a close relative of the Cape gooseberry with a sweet, pineapple like flavour. It can be grown as an annual in cooler areas.
It is easy to grow with a low, sprawling, bushy habit to 50 cm high. Wait for the ripe fruit to fall to the ground, the fruit will be blueberry-sized, golden yellow and the papery husk tan-coloured at maturity.
It should not be eaten green. Use it fresh or cooked in pies, jams, salsas and desserts. It is prone to pest problems in the subtropics and grows best with an exclusion cover. Days to harvest: 77.

Available as seed...

Curry Leaf Tree UT
Murraya koenigii syn. Bergera koenigii
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. Sweet neem, curry leaves
This is a small bushy tree to 4 m high that does well in the subtropics and tropics. It has attractive, fragrant white flowers and dark, ferny leaves. In colder areas it can be grown in a container and moved indoors or onto a sheltered verandah during winter. It is considered an essential spice in many Indian and Sri Lankan dishes and has been used as a herbal medicine for centuries. The leaves have a spicy flavour and are used in curries, chutneys and marinades. Dried leaves are sometimes an ingredient in Madras curry powder. When cooking, the leaves are stripped from the stems and added to hot oil at the beginning with the other spices. The plant prefers rich, well-drained soil in a warm, sheltered position with consistent watering during dry periods. It both self-sows and suckers so care must be taken to prevent any weed potential. We recommend growing it in a large pot or planter bag. As birds may spread the berries, the berries should be removed by giving the plant a trim once it finishes flowering before the berries are fully formed.
Provided as tubestock.
GC161
GC166Save $1.90

Red Dragon Fruit / Pitaya UT
Hylocereus polyrhizus syn. Hylocereus costaricensis
Not to Norfolk Island, TAS or WA
Syn. Pitahaya, Pitajaya, Pitaya Roja, Pitahaya De Cardón, Thanh Long Red Dragonfruit has big, very beautiful white flowers which are followed by a large fruit with a pink skin and red flesh. The fruit is sweet and juicy with much more flavour than white fleshed varieties. Dragonfruit is a terrific fruit to grow as it crops over a long period, takes up less room than a fruit tree and is relatively pest and disease-free. It can successfully be grown in large pots or bags. It grows between 2 and 5 m high and needs a strong support. It grows best in subtropical and tropical areas.
Provided as a cutting.
GD100

Dianthus 'Burgundy Blush'

UT
Dianthus spp.
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
'Burgundy Blush' is a delightful groundcover with fragrant, deep red flowers with a frilly margin of hot pink. It grows 30 cm tall by 35 cm wide with compact silvery foliage. It is attractive to butterflies and blooms for an extended period. It can be used as a cut flower or as a cake decoration. It is hardy, easy to grow and good in containers.
Provided in mini pots.
GD101
GD102Save $1.90

Elderberry UT
Sambucus nigra
Not to Norfolk Island, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. Black Elder
Elderberry has been in use as a wild food plant for thousands of years. It is a deciduous shrubby tree that can grow more than 3 - 4 metres tall but is best kept pruned for an easier harvest. The traditional use of the ripe berries in Europe has been jams, jellies and wines but it is now attracting attention for its anti-viral properties. The clusters of small cream-coloured flowers are used as a tea or cordial. Immature berries and all other parts of the plant are toxic and should not be eaten. Cooking the berries is desirable to reduce the risk of any toxicity. The flowers are attractive to butterflies and native bees. Elderberry prefers full sun and a fertile well-drained soil. The plants can sucker vigorously so grow it somewhere that it can be easily controlled. Growing it in a big (400 L) planter bag is one way to limit its growth. To prevent it becoming a possible weed it should be netted when fruiting. It is a recommended that you check with your local government for its weed status in your area.
Provided as one crown.
GE105

Provided as tubestock.
GE107
GE108Save $1.90

Elephant Garlic Organically Certified OGA
Allium ampeloprasum (Ampeloprasum Group)
Not to Norfolk Island, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. 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 hardier to hot conditions. It can grow from the tropics to temperate regions. Each kilo pack contains approximately 48 to 56 cloves (planting pieces). Each small pack contains 6 cloves (planting pieces).
More info on growing elephant garlic...

GG107
GG112

Feijoa UT
Acca sellowiana
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Syn. pineapple guava, guavasteen
Feijoa is an evergreen, perennial shrub or small tree widely grown as an ornamental for its beautiful red flowers, which are sweet and edible. Fruit have a pleasant flavour, are egg shaped, green skinned and appear in autumn. Feijoa varieties are only partly self fertile so fruiting will be improved by cross pollination between two or more trees. Good pollination also improves fruit quality.
Provided in mini pots.
GF100
GF101Save $1.90

Fig 'Black Genoa' UT
Ficus carica
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
Fig 'Black Genoa' is a deciduous, ornamental, self-pollinated tree, between 2 and 6 metres high. The large purplish-black fruit have a red flesh with sweet rich flavour. It grows best in full sun on a well-drained soil with a neutral pH of 6.6 - 7. It is very productive, with 2 crops a year. The fruit can be eaten fresh, dried or used to make a delicious jam. It is usually pruned to a multi-stem vase shape but can also be grown as an espalier or as a hedge. Although all figs prefer a less humid climate with dry summers, 'Black Genoa' performs well in subtropical areas. It is drought tolerant once established.
Provided as tubestock.
GF106
GF107Save $1.90

Finger Lime

Microcitrus australasica
Syn. Native citrus
Finger Limes are an Australian native rainforest tree that grow throughout South East Queensland and Northern NSW. It is a hardy, evergreen, attractive small tree to 3 - 6 m high which is resistant to root diseases. As the name suggests the fruit is the size and shape of a finger. The juice filled pearls inside the thin-skinned fruit are referred to as 'Citrus Caviar'. The fruit is highly nutritious, rich in vitamin C and high in antioxidants. As the tree is thorny it provides nest sites for small birds. It does best in a position sheltered from strong winds, from light shade to full sun. A well-drained soil with a pH of 5 - 6.5 is preferred. Finger Lime is a type of citrus and so prefers similar growing conditions, mulching and fertilising. Grow as a fruiting hedge, in an orchard or as a container plant.

Finger Lime 'Red Champagne'

UT
Microcitrus australasica
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
'Red Champagne' is a gourmet finger lime up to 12 cm long, narrow and cylindrical in shape, with a dark red skin, full of individual red globular juice vesicles that burst in your mouth, exploding with an effervescent tangy citrus flavour. The colour will deepen as the fruit ripens. The oil cells on the rind are small, giving the fruit a glossy appearance. These pearl-sized balls of juice can be used in salads, as a garnish, for marmalade, savoury sauces or drinks.
Grown by cutting; provided in mini pots.
GF109
GF110Save $1.90

Finger Lime 'Torakina Pink'

UT
Microcitrus australasica
Not to Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS or WA
'Torakina Pink' is a selected pink finger lime that has a pink skin and is full of individual bright pink globular juice vesicles that burst in your mouth, exploding with an effervescent tangy citrus flavour. These pearl-sized balls of juice can be used in salads, as a garnish, for marmalade, savoury sauces or drinks.
Grown by cutting; provided in mini pots.
GF103
GF104Save $1.90

Are you looking for garlic for planting?