Acacia implexa

Lightwood

Bark used to make coarse string and a medicine for rheumatism. Edible seed. Open, dry, well-drained position, full sun. Tree 4- 5m.

Seed

Acacia mearnsii

Black Wattle

GARRONG
(Wurundjeri)

Edible gum and seed. Bark tea is used for indigestion.  Open, dry, well-drained position, full sun. Tree to 15m.

Seed

Gum

Acacia melanoxylon

Blackwood

BURN-NA-LOOK
(Wurundjeri)

Bark is used to alleviate rheumatism. Edible seed. Leaves pounded and used as fish poison. Partially protected position, semi-shade. Moist, well-drained soil. Tree 5-18m.

Seed

Gum

Acacia pycnantha

Golden Wattle

KARRANK
(Gundit Jmara)

Edible gum and seed. Gum also used as an adhesive. Open, dry, well-drained position. Full sun. Small tree 3-8m. Fast growing.

Seed

Gum

Acacia retinodes

Swamp Wattle

WIRILDA

Pods are edible when green. Edible seed. Moist position, full sun to semi-shade. Shrub 3-6m.

Seed

Acmena smithii

Lilly Pilly

Fruit eaten raw or made into jam. Open moist position. Full sun to semi-shade. Shrub 3-4m.

Fruit

Apium prostratum

Sea Celery

Edible leaves and stems. Excellent in soup. Perennial for a moist, sunny position. 30cm.

Leaf

Stem

Araucaria bidwillii

Bunya Nut

Much sought after seeds eaten raw, baked or boiled. Magnificent tree can reach 15 metres and beyond in cultivation. Very tough. Sun.

Seed

Arthropodium milleflorum

Pale Vanilla Lily

Tubers crisp, white and bittersweet. Edible raw or roasted. Herbaceous perennial to 30cm, dormant in summer. Moist, well-drained, semi-shaded position.

Tuber

Arthropodium minus

Small Vanilla Lily

Edible tubers eaten raw or roasted. Herbaceous perennial to 30cm, dormant in summer. Moist, protected, semi-shaded position. Well-drained.

Tuber

Arthropodium strictum

Chocolate Lily

Delectable chocolate scented flowers. Edible tubers eaten raw or roasted. Herbaceous perennial to 30cm, dormant in summer. Open, moist, well-drained position. Full sun.

Tuber

Astroloma humifusum

Cranberry Heath

BAGUD
(Wergaia)

Sweet edible fruit. Dense spreading mat forming plant 50cm x 1m. Open, dry, well-drained position. Full sun.

Fruit

Atriplex semibaccata

Berry Saltbush

Leaves edible after boiling to remove excess salt. Spreading perennial 30cm x 1m. Open, dry, well-drained position. Full sun.

Leaf

Austromyrtus dulcis

Midyim Berry

A beautiful edible fruit with a soft, sweet, slightly aromatic pulp that melts in the mouth. Shrub to 1.5m, spreading habit. Sun to part shade. Moist.

Fruit

Backhousia myrtifolia

Grey Myrtle

Cinnamon scented leaves. Useful in teas and flavouring sweet dishes. Small hardy tree 3-7m. Moist, semi-shaded position.

Leaf

Billardiera cymosa

Sweet Appleberry

Sweet fruit eaten when soft. Delicate climber for a protected, dry, well-drained position. Sun to part shade.

Fruit

Billardiera scandens

Common Appleberry

GARAWANG

Edible fruit is ripe when soft. Hardy climber for a protected, dry, well-drained position. Sun to part shade.

Fruit

Bolboschoenus medianus

Marsh Club-rush

WOORPERT
(Lake Boga)

Edible crisp, sweet, young, fibrous tuber. Raw or roasted. Reed plant up to 2 metres for shallow, fresh, brackish water, full sun. Suitable for ponds.

Tuber

Brachychiton acerifolium

Illawarra Flame

Nutty flavoured edible seed. Large tree to 10m. Moist, well-drained position. Frost tender when young. Sun to part shade.

Seed

Brachychiton populneus

Kurrajong

Nutritious edible seed, eaten raw or roasted. Handsome upright growing tree to 10m. Moist, well-drained position. Sun to part shade. 

Seed

Bulbine bulbosa

Bulbine Lily

PARM
(Gunditjmara)

Bulb high in calcium and iron. Eaten roasted. Herbaceous perennial, dormant in summer. Protected, moist, well-drained position. Semi- shade.

Bulb

Burchardia umbellata

Milk Maids

POPOTO
(Lake Condah)

Tasty tuber eaten raw or roasted. Crisp and starchy. Herbaceous perennial, dormant in summer. Open, well-drained position. Full sun.

Tuber

Inland Noonflower

KEENG-A
(Bunganditj)

Fruit

Leaf

Carprobrotus rossii

Coastal Pigface

CUTWORT
(Gippsland)

Sweet edible glutinous fruit in summer. Hardy ground cover for an open, dry, well-drained position. Full sun.

Fruit

Clematis aristata

Old Man’s Beard

Edible taproot. Vigorous climber for a well-drained position. Sun to semi-shade.

Taproot

Clematis microphylla

Small-leafed Clematis

TAARUK
(Gunditjmara)

The taproot is eaten roasted. Root fibres used to make string. Prolific climber for an open, dry, well-drained position. Semi-shade.

Taproot

Convolvulus erubescens

Pink Bindweed

TAROOK
(Gunditjmara)

The taproot is eaten roasted. Winter vegetable. Fast growing, trailing or climbing perennial. Open, dry, well-drained position. Full sun.

Taproot

Coprosma quadrifida

Prickly Currant Bush

Edible sweet, slightly astringent fruit. Can be cooked. Hardy shrub to 2m. Protected, moist position. Semi-shade. Best planted in a group.

Fruit

White Correa

Cape Barren Tea

Dianella longifolia

Pale Flax Lily

Edible berries when ripe. Tufted perennial for a protected, moist, well-drained position. Sun to part shade.

Fruit

Dianella revoluta

Black-anther Flax Lily

MURMBAL
(Lake Hindmarsh)

Edible berries when ripe. Leaf fibre used to make cord and baskets. Tufted perennial for a protected, moist, well-drained position. Sun to part shade.

Fruit

Dodonaea viscosa

Wedge-Leaf Hop Bush

Seeds used as a hops substitute for brewing beer. Leaves can be chewed to soothe toothache. Hardy shrub. Open, dry, well drained position. Sun. 1-3m.

Seed

Einadia hastata

Saloop

Berry Saltbush

Leaves edible after boiling to remove excess salt. Hardy trailing perennial shrub. Dry, well-drained position. Full sun. 30cm x 50cm.

Leaf

Einadia natans ssp. nutans

Nodding Saltbush

Sweet edible fruit. Edible leaves after boiling to remove salt. Low shrub or groundcover. Open, warm, dry, well-drained position. Full sun. 60cm.

Fruit

Leaf

Enchylaena tomentosa

Ruby Saltbush

Edible berries, sweet though slightly salty. Edible leaf. Open, dry, well-rained position. Full sun. Prostrate shrub to 1m wide.

Fruit

Leaf

Eucalyptus gunnii

Cider Gum

The sap is reputed to be an excellent substitute for maple syrup. Tree up to 25m. Requires moist soil. Sun.

Sap

Eupomatia laurina

Native Guava

Aborigines ate the sticky sweet pulp coating the seeds. Hardy evergreen shrub to 3m for a moist, semi-shaded position. Brilliant foliage colour.

Fruit

Geranium solanderi

Austral Crane’s Bill

TERRAT
(Coranderrk)

The taproot is eaten after roasting. Prostrate perennial for an open, moist, well-drained position. Full sun. 50cm.

Tuber

Hardenbergia violacea

Purple Coral Pea

(False Sarsaparilla)

Flowers used to make a dye.  Boiled leaves make a slightly sweet tea. Hardy, vigorous climber. Open, dry, well-drained position. Full sun.

Leaf

Hedycarya angustifolia

Austral Mulberry                              

DJELWUCK
(Wurundjeri)

Straight stems used to make fire sticks. Shrub or small tree from 3 to 6 metres.  Protected, moist, well-drained position. Semi-shade.

_____

Hibiscus heterophyllus

Native Rosella

Native Hibiscus

The acid buds of the flower are used to make delicious rosella jam. Spectacular shrub to 3m. Moist, well-drained position. Sun to part shade. Frost sensitive.

Flower buds

Indigofera australis

Austral Indigo

Leaves and roots were pounded and used as fish poison. Hardy shrub up to 2m. Protected, dry, well-drained position. Semi-shade.

_____

Kennedia prostrata

Running Postman

KABIN
(Coranderrk)

Flowers sucked to extract sweet nectar. Stems used as twine. Hardy spreading ground cover. Dry, well-drained position. Semi-shade.

Flower

Kunzea pomifera

Muntries

NGURP
(Bunganditj)

Delicious edible berries. Staple food for some Aborigines. Makes excellent jams and tarts. Can be pounded, dried and stored. Woody creeper for a well-drained, sunny position.

Fruit

Leptospermum petersonii

Lemon scented

Tea- Tree

Fragrant leaves are used to make tea. Highly valued for its essential oil content. Hardy shrub to 3m. Moist, well-drained position. Sun to part shade.

Leaf

Mentha australis

River Mint

Medicinal plant. Leaves used for coughs, colds and stomach cramp. Insect repellent. Perennial for a moist, protected position. Semi-shade.

Leaf

Microseris  lanceolata

Yam Daisy

MURNONG
(Wurundjeri)

Edible tubers, raw or roasted. An important staple food for south-eastern Aboriginal people. Herbaceous perennial, dormant in summer. Open, moist, well-drained position. Full sun.

Tuber

Myoporum viscosum

Sticky Boobialla

Edible fruit. Attractive shrub 1-3m. Open, dry position, well-drained soil. Full sun.

Fruit

Planchonella australis

Black Apple

Black Plum

Fruit eaten fresh or preserved. Large tree up to 15m in cultivation. Moist, semi-shaded position.

Fruit

Prostanthera cuneata

Alpine Mint Bush

Strong minty aroma. Leaves used to flavour jams and jellies. Compact shrub to 1m. Sun, part shade.

Leaf

Prostanthera incisa

Cut-Leaf Mint Bush

Fresh scented leaves used to flavour jams and jellies. Shrub to 1m. Full sun to part shade.

Leaf

Prostanthera ovalifolia

Oval-Leaf Mint Bush

Minty flavoured leaves used in jams and jellies. Hardy shrub to 2m. Moist position. Sun to part shade.

Leaf

Prostranthera rotundifolia

Round-Leaf Mint Bush

Scented foliage used to flavour jams, jellies and biscuits. Hardy shrub to 2m. Moist position. Sun to part shade.

Leaf

Rubus parvifolius

Native Raspberry

EEPAEEP
(Coranderrk)

Edible sweet berry. An astringent medicinal tea made from the leaves is used to treat diarrhoea. Perennial scrambling ground cover to 1m. Moist, well-drained position. Full sun.

Fruit

Leaf

Sambucus gaudichaudiana

White Elderberry

BURNE-BURNE
(Lake Condah)

Edible fleshy sweet, sometimes sour fruit. Herbaceous perennial to 90 cm. Dormant in winter. Moist, semi-shaded position.

Fruit

Santalum acuminatum

Quandong

GUDI GUDI
(Madi Madi)

Edible seed and delightfully tart fruit, rich in vitamin C. Large shrub or small tree to 5m. Requires a host plant such as Myoporum. Open, dry, well-drained position. Full sun.

Fruit

Seed

Solanum aviculare

Kangaroo Apple

Edible fruit when ripe, poisonous when green. Fast growing, spreading shrub to 4m. Protected, moist, well-drained position. Semi-shade.

Fruit

Solanum laciniatum

Large Kangaroo Apple

MOOKITCH
(Lake Condah)

Edible fruit when ripe, poisonous when green. Hardy spreading shrub to 3m. Sheltered, moist, well-drained position. Semi-shade.

Fruit

Botanical Name

Common Name & Koorie Name

Uses & Cultural Notes

Edible Part

Syzygium luehmannii

Magenta Cherry

Fruit can be eaten raw or made into jam. Tree 5 to 10m. Open moist position. Full sun to part shade.

Fruit

Tasmannia lanceolata

Mountain Pepper

Sensational hot, spicy, edible leaf and berry. Use fresh or dried in savoury dishes. Shrub to 3m. Moist, well-drained position. Semi-shade.

Leaf

Fruit

Tetragonia tetragonoides

Warrigal Greens

Edible leaf, raw or cooked. Vigorous groundcover for a moist, well-drained position. Sun to part shade.

Leaf

Triglochin procera

Water Ribbons

POL-AN-GO
(Wathaurong)

Edible sweet crisp tuber, eaten raw or roasted. Strap-like foliage grows in water 60cm deep.  Full sun to part shade.

Tuber

Viola hederacea

Native Violet

Sweet edible flower used fresh in salads. Creeping groundcover for a moist position in semi-shade.

Flower

Wahlenbergia communis

Tufted Bluebell

Edible flowers. Small perennial up to 30cm. Open, dry, well-drained position. Full sun.

Flower

Wahlenbergia multicaulis

Tadgell’s Bluebell

Edible flowers. Small perennial up to 30cm. Dry well-drained position. Semi-shade.

Flower

Wahlenbergia stricta

Tall Bluebell

Edible flowers. Perennial up to 30 cm. Open, dry, well-drained position. Full sun.

Flower

Xanthorrhoea minor

Small Grass Tree

BAGGUP

(Wurundjeri)

Edible leaf and root when young. Flowers provide nectar. Flower stems used as light spears. Open, dry, well-drained position. Full sun.

Leaf

Root