5 Australian Native Plants You Can Eat

Australia’s landscapes are home to over 700,000 native species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. So, it’s no surprise that our natural environment offers a flavoursome variety of edible native plants.

Known more commonly as bush foods, these plants have a long history of use by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and are often used not only as food sources, but for medicinal, ceremonial and cultural purposes too. Here are five of our favourite edible native plants.

1. Macadamia Nuts (Macadamia spp.)

Macadamia nuts on tree. Photo credit: MorePix, CC BY-SA 3.0

The macadamia, which we’d happily claim as the finest nut in the world, is the only bush food (so far) that has become a worldwide commercial success. Whether you like them roasted, raw or infused with vanilla, these nuts are a favourite for their health benefits (they are rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants) and for their amazing sweet and buttery flavour.

Native to the rainforests of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, Aboriginal people traditionally used macadamia nuts for gifting and bartering. Many native animals also use macadamia nuts as a food source, including possums, galahs, and cockatoos. The most common species, M. integrifolia, is a small to medium sized tree to about 15 metres with an attractive, ornamental habit, glossy oblong leaves and long white racemes of flowers in winter and spring. Even without producing nuts, it’s a good tree to grow in a range of climates and soils so long as there are good drainage and humus-rich soil.

2. Riberry (Syzygium luehmannii)

The riberry has a spicy flavour with hints of cloves and cinnamon. Like macadamias, riberry also occurs naturally in the coastal rainforests of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. For thousands of years, Aboriginal people on the east coast relied on riberry as a core food source. Some referred to the fruit as “medicine berries” and used it to treat ear infections.

You can eat riberries right off the tree, but people also use them to make sauces, chutneys, and jams. Like macadamia nuts, riberries also contain antioxidants as well as vitamins A, C, E, and folate. Riberries are also an excellent food source for native wildlife, such as the Australasian figbird, emus, and flying foxes!

Like most lilly pillies, the riberry is also quite a popular ornamental tree or street tree – while this species can grow up to 30 metres in the rainforest, in cultivation they tend to be 8-10 metres tall and can easily be kept as a smaller tree with light pruning.

3. Kangaroo Apple (Solanum aviculare)

Solanum aviculare. Photo credit: Agnieszka Kwiecień, CC BY 4.0

The kangaroo apple is a small, round fruit that measures up to 5 centimetres long and a maximum of 15 millimetres wide. This species is native to Southeastern Australia and New Zealand. Traditionally, Aboriginal women created a drink by boiling the unripe fruits, which acted as an oral contraceptive as it contains steroidal alkaloid solasodine.

Kangaroo apple also contains phytochemicals called phenols, which act as antioxidants to help protect against diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. This fruit has a juicy, sweet, and slightly tangy flavour with a hint of melon, which many native birds enjoy. Kangaroo apples can be eaten raw and incorporated into salads or cheese boards – just make sure they are really ripe, green berries can be poisonous.

Whether you eat the fruits or not, the kangaroo apple is a great medium-sized native shrub to consider for your backyard, with its attractive dark green leaves and vibrant purple flowers.

4. Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora)

Backhousia citriodora flowers. Photo credit: John Robert McPherson, CC BY 4.0

Lemon myrtle, the queen of lemon herbs, has a citrusy and fragrant flavour. This species occurs in the wetter coastal areas of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. Aboriginal people used lemon myrtle to flavour food and often to make tea, as the leaves are rich in essential oils. It’s still used in much the same way, for dressings, sauces, meat dishes, and more. Some also use it as an herbal medicine to treat cuts and abrasions. This native plant also contains vitamin C and citral, both of which play a crucial role in boosting the immune system.

With its aromatic leaves and fluffy white flowerheads, this is a great habitat plant for the garden, attracting native wildlife such as bees, nectar-eating birds, butterflies, and other insects. It can grow into a medium tree but can be kept to a shrub if regularly pruned. Even better, you can pick the leaves to use year-round.

5. Midyim/Midgen Berry (Austromyrtus dulcis)

Austromyrtus dulcis fruit. Photo credit: Zaareo, CC BY 3.0

Similar in taste and appearance to the blueberry, this small, white and purple-speckled fruit has a sweet and tangy flavour and can be eaten fresh or used in pies or other types of food. This native plant grows naturally within a range from northern New South Wales to Fraser Island in Queensland. The midyim berry has been used as a food source and, often, as medicine to treat coughs, colds, and wounds by Indigenous people. Birds and native lizards also like to eat the berries and the flowers attract bees and insects that help with pollination.

Like many other bush foods, midyim berries offer health benefits, including vitamin C, which helps support the immune system and reduce inflammation. Interestingly, it also contains antioxidants that may help reduce signs of ageing and promote a youthful appearance.

This plant is definitely one to consider for your backyard, with its attractive foliage and coppery growing tips that can be easily pruned into a low hedge or border.

Try this at home!

With their unique flavours and natural health benefits, these edible native plants offer something new for your plate. If you love gardening and have the space, why not try growing these plants in your own backyard? They’ll reward you with free food while also providing habitat for a whole range of native animals.

Enjoyed this article? Here are five more bush tucker treats to try.
 
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