Atherton ginger
Botanical name: Alpinia caerulea
Common name: Atherton ginger, Red Back Australian Ginger
Description: A flowering, moisture-loving perennial 2m high, 1m wide, suited to containers and round.
Soil/habitat: Moisture-loving perennial
Cultural use: A flavoursome and practical edible root, an excellent native substitute for ordinary ginger, usable in sweet and savoury dishes and to make ginger tea. Edible bright blue berries with a pleasant ginger citrus flavour. Seeds can be toxic. Other uses include thatch shelters, handicrafts and food wrappings for cooking.
Mangles Kangaroo Paw
Botanical name: Anigozanthos manglesii
Common name: Mangles Kangaroo Paw, Red and Green Kangaroo Paw
Noongar name: Kurulbrang, Nollamara, Yonga Marra, Knulbora
Description: Rhizomatous, perennial, herb, 0.2-1.1m high. Flowers are green & red from Aug to Nov.
Soil/habitat: White, yellow or grey sand, sandy loam.
Cultural use: The roots were eaten either raw or roasted in hot ashes. Sometimes roots were ground into a paste which was then formed into cakes and baked in hot ashes.
Buno
Botanical name: Beaufortia squarrosa
Common name: Sand Bottlebrush
Noongar name: Buno
Description: Shrub, 0.5-2m high, fruit 4-6mm long. Flowers are red-orange-yellow from Jan to May or Aug to Dec.
Soil/habitat: White, grey or yellow sand, sometimes over limestone, laterite. Sandplains, associated with winter-wet depressions.
Cultural uses: Flowers were a good source of nectar and were either sucked directly or the flowers were soaked in water to make a sweet drink.
Starflowers
Botanical name: Calytrix acutifolia
Common name: Starflowers
Description: Slender, open-branched shrub, to 2m high. Flowers are white/cream/yellow from April to December.
Soil/habitat: White to yellow sand, brown sandy clay, gravelly grey-brown loam, red loam, granite, laterite. Consolidated dunes, slopes, swampy ground, rock outcrops, breakaways.
Centella asiatica
Botanical name: Centella asiatica
Common name: Gotu Kola, Kodavan, Indian pennywort and Asiatic pennywort
Description: Creeping, stoloniferous perennial, herb, 0.05-0.4m high. Flowers are Pink/purple-red/white from Aug to Dec or Jan to Apr.
Soil/habitat: Often in winter-wet depressions.
Cultural uses: Leaves are edible either raw or steamed. Treats minor wounds and other conditions such as leprosy, lupus, varicose ulcers, eczema, psoriasis, diarrhoea, fever, amenorrhea, diseases of the female genito-urinary tract, relieves anxiety and improves cognition.
Darwinia
Botanical name: Darwinia citriodora prostrate seaspray
Common name: Darwinia
Description: Low mounding groundcover, 0.5-1m high, spreads up to 1m. Flowers are vivid orange-red, attracts honeyeaters, butterflies and bees.
Soil/habitat: Sandy, loamy well-drained soils.
Sword sedge
Botanical name: Lepidosperma gladiatum
Common name: Sword sedge
Description: Rhizomatous, tufted robust perennial, grass-like or herb (sedge), 0.5-3m high, clumps to 1.5m wide. Flowers are brown from Nov to Dec or Jan to May.
Soil/habitat: White, grey or calcareous sand, limestone, loam. Dunes, creeklines.
Regelia inops
Botanical name: Regelia inops
Common name: Regelia inops
Description: Erect, often spreading shrub, 0.75-2.5m high. Flowers pink-purple-blue in Jan or Mar or Jun or Oct to Dec.
Soil/habitat:Sandy soils. Winter-wet depressions, sandplains.
Thryptomene
Botanical name: Thryptomene saxicola
Common name: Thryptomene
Description: Compact, low growing shrub, 0.75 – 1.5m. Flowers are pink from May-Oct. Attracts bees, buttlerflies, other insects.
Soil/habitat:Well drained loamy, sandy loam, clay loam, potting mix.
Grass Tree
Botanical name: Xanthorrhoea brunonis
Common name: Grass Tree
Description: A low growing perennial grass tree, up to 1.5m high, trunk none or up to 0.1m, scape length 0.35-1.5m, spike length 0.1-0.3m. Flowers are white-cream from Oct to Dec.
Soil/habitat: Sand, sandy clay, laterite.
Sea Celery
Botanical Name: Apium annuum
Common name: Sea Celery
Description: This drought tolerant, frost tolerant plant loves the sun, grows between 30cm and 50cm high, up to 50cm wide.
Soil/habitat: Choose a soil or potting mix that drains easily and water well throughout the year.
Cultural uses: A flavoursome herb or vegetable, substitute for celery, adds salty notes to any dish as a garnish, finely chopped or in sprigs to flavour soups, salads and chicken and seafood dishes. Stems may be enjoyed fresh, or blanched to temper the strong flavours.
Old Man Saltbush
Botanical name: Atriplex nummularia
Common name: Old Man Saltbush
Noongar name: Purngep, Pining or Binga
Description: A woody shrub up to 3m high, grown in the ground or pots.
Soil/habitat: Tolerates drought, salinity and sandy soil in the wild, a rich and loamy, but free-draining soil.
Cultural use: Commonly used as a livestock grazing plant. The seeds and leaves are viable bush tucker, with the leaves salty in flavour and rich in protein, antioxidants and minerals. Enjoy leaves blanched, sautéed, wrapped around meat or fish, used in salads, or for stuffing poultry or dried as a herb or sprinkle.
Darwinia
Botanical name: Darwinia citriodora prostrate seaspray
Common name: Darwinia
Description: Low mounding groundcover, 0.5-1m high, spreads up to 1m. Flowers are vivid orange-red, attracts honeyeaters, butterflies and bees.
Soil/habitat: Sandy, loamy well-drained soils.
One-sided Bottlebrush
Botanical name: Calothamnus quadrifidus
Common name: One-sided Bottlebrush
Noongar name: Kwowdjard, Quietjat
Description: Erect, compact or spreading shrub, 0.9-2m high. Flowers are red/white-yellow from Jun to Dec.
Soil/habitat: Wide variety of soils & habitats.
Cultural use: Flowers were a good source of nectar and were either sucked directly or soaked in water to make a sweet drink, often left to ferment to become an alcoholic drink.
Common Net Bush
Botanical name: Calothamnus lateralis
Common name: Common Net Bush or One-sided Bottlebrush
Description: Erect shrub 0.4 to 1.5m high. Flowers are red from August to December.
Soil/habitat: Swamps and winter wet depressions.
Bulbine bulbosa
Botanical name: Bulbine bulbosa
Common name: Native Leek, Bulbine Lily or Wild Onion
Noongar name: Pike (Woiwurrung), Parm, Puewan
Description: A small plant, reaching a 40cm height and 30cm width, grass-like appearance and bright yellow star-shaped flowers from September to March.
Soil/habitat: A loamy soil that holds plenty of water, in full sun or dappled shade.
Cultural use: Has edible seeds used similar to fennel seeds, roots and below-ground corms that are a tasty bushfood and contains calcium and iron and was likely roasted before eating. The corm’s protruding roots are also edible, with a mild oniony flavour.
Green Kangaroo Paw
Botanical name: Anigozanthos viridis
Common name: Green Kangaroo Paw, Swamp Kangaroo Paw
Noongar name: Koroylbardany, Koroylbardang
Description: Rhizomatous, perennial, herb, 0.05-0.85m high. Flowers are green/yellow-green from Aug to Oct.
Soil/habitat: Sand, loam, clay. Winter-wet areas.
Cultural use: The roots were eaten either raw or roasted in hot ashes. Sometimes roots were ground into a paste which was then formed into cakes and baked in hot ashes.
Sea Rosemary
Botanical name: Olearia axillaris
Common name: Sea Rosemary, Wild Rosemary
Description: A bushy foliage bushfood plant with attractive silvery foliage, reaches 2m high. Cream-coloured flowers from Summer to late Autumn.
Soil/habitat: Prefers full sun and a light to medium well-drained soil. Salt tolerant and well-suited to coastal areas, as it’s resilient to strong winds and sandy soils with few nutrients. Does not tolerate extremely cold or wet conditions.
Cultural uses:Fragrant edible foliage with insect repelling properties. Can be used fresh and dried in a variety of savory and sweet dishes.
Youlk
Botanical name: Platysace deflexa
Common name: Ravensthorpe radish, Youlk
Description: Reaches 0.4m in height with a 1m diameter spread.
Soil/habitat: Thrives in dry conditions in nutrient-poor, sandy soils or part shade, in loamy soil. Water generously during Summer.
Cultural use:One of many edible bushfood roots in traditional cuisine, it holds special significance in Aboriginal culture as a marker of Indigenous identity, spirituality and connection to the land. Crisp apple-like texture, golden potato colour and hints of carrot and sweet eucalypt flavour, it makes a tasty ingredient for salads, stews, pies, gratin, cakes and other dishes.
Purngep, Pining or Binga
Botanical name: Atriplex nummularia
Common name: Old Man Saltbush
Noongar name: Purngep, Pining or Binga
Description: A woody shrub up to 3m high, grown in the ground or pots.
Soil/habitat: Tolerates drought, salinity and sandy soil in the wild, a rich and loamy, but free-draining soil.
Cultural use: Commonly used today as a livestock grazing plant. The seeds and leaves are viable bush tucker, with the leaves salty in flavour and rich in protein, antioxidants and minerals. Enjoy leaves blanched, sautéed, wrapped around meat or fish, used in salads, or for stuffing poultry or dried as a herb or sprinkle.
Sword sedge
Botanical name: Lepidosperma gladiatum
Common name: Sword sedge
Description: Rhizomatous, tufted robust perennial, grass-like or herb (sedge), 0.5-3m high, clumps to 1.5m wide. Flowers are brown from Nov to Dec or Jan to May.
Soil/habitat: White, grey or calcareous sand, limestone, loam. Dunes, creeklines.
Running Postman
Botanical name: Kennedia prostrata
Common name: Running Postman
Noongar name: Wollung, Pulbarn, Kuralo, Wollong
Description: Prostrate or twining shrub.
Soil/habitat: Usually sandy gravelly soils.
Cultural use: The flowers provide a source of sweet nectar that can be sucked straight from the flower. Leaves are used to make a tea-like drink, which has a pleasant liquorice flavour. Nectar was used to soothe sore throats.
Sword sedge
Botanical name: Lepidosperma gladiatum
Common name: Sword sedge
Description: Rhizomatous, tufted robust perennial, grass-like or herb (sedge), 0.5-3m high, clumps to 1.5m wide. Flowers are brown from Nov to Dec or Jan to May.
Soil/habitat: White, grey or calcareous sand, limestone, loam. Dunes, creeklines.
Slender Mint
Botanical name: Mentha diemenica
Common name: Slender Mint, Wild Mint
Description: A suckering plant that grows about 10cm high and with a seemingly endless spread if permitted to run wild.
Soil/habitat: Loves damp conditions and part-shade.
Cultural use:Use in salads, sandwiches, deserts, cocktails, water infusions and salt infusions. Leaves may be used fresh, or chopped and dried for later use.
Boobiala
Botanical name: Myoporum insulare
Common name: Coastal Boobialla, Native Juniper
Noongar name: Boobiala
Description: Dense, low spreading or erect shrub or tree (occasionally), 0.25m-5m high. Flowers are white from Jul to Dec or Jan to Feb.
Soil/habitat: White/grey sand. Coastal dunes and limestone.
Cultural use: Fruits are edible when ripe (bitter and salty).
Pimelea ferruginea 'magenta'
Botanical name: Pimelea ferruginea 'magenta'
Common name: Rice Flower
Description: Small shrub with small dark green glossy leaves, 1-1.2m, spreads up to 1m. Flowers are magenta pink tubular from Aug to Oct. Attracts bees, butterflies, insects.
Soil/habitat: Well drained, loamy, sandy loam, potting mix. Drought resistant.
Twin-leaf Myoporum
Botanical name: Myoporum oppositifolium
Common name: Twin-leaf Myoporum
Description: Erect slender or sprawling shrub, 0.4-1.5m high. Flowers are white/white-purple from Aug to Dec or Jan or Mar to Apr.
Soil/habitat: Sandy soils, loam. Coastal areas, along creeks and rivers.