We’re very lucky in Australia with our selection of unique flora and fauna, but did you know that we also have our own native foods? If you do your research, the list of Aussie bush tucker is simply enormous, but here’s a few to get started in your garden!
Finger Lime (Citrus australasica)
This one is quite incredible, and easy to grow in the garden. As the name suggests, it looks like an small, cylindrical lime. But the real treat are the delicate and brightly coloured “pearls” inside! You simply scoop them out, and the uses in cooking are very broad (pretty much wherever you use citrus). Scatter them over seafood, or through a salad, in drinks or as a zesty garnish on a dessert. There’s lots of choice when it comes to colours too – from white and green, to orange and bright pink. The plant itself is very thorny, and it is a good idea to protect trees from prevailing winds as the fruit can be damaged by the plant’s thorns. Finger limes thrive in dappled light as well as full sun. In cooler climates, a partly shaded north-facing site is preferred. They are able to withstand light frost. It is native to the rainforests of south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales, but will grow elsewhere. A member from the Austraflora Team has had some luck growing them in Melbourne!
Lilly Pilly (Syzygium australe)
Lilly pillies are lovely rainforest trees native to Australia and south-east Asia. This is one of the most well-known and popular bush tucker plants. The trees are great to use for hedging and screening with their attractive evergreen and glossy leaves. They produce fluffy white flowers in late spring and summer, followed by edible purple berries. They’re not very tasty on their own, but when made into chutney and jelly can be quite nice. There’s even recipes for Lilly Pilly Champagne!
Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia)
We all know this one, and Austraflora has it’s very own Macadamia Lotsa Nuts! A gorgeous tree with shiny leaves, able to be hedged or simply placed in an easily accessible spot in your garden. Perfumed cream flowers are produced in spring, followed by lots of delicious macadamia nuts. Crunchy and buttery, this nut can be eaten raw, salted, roasted, encased in chocolate, or used for baking. Easy to grow in cool temperate to tropical climates, in open sunny or partially shaded sites. Medium frost tolerance. Will also thrive in near-coastal sites with deep humus and mulching.