Edible Beauties: Exploring Bush Tucker Plants with Ornamental Flair

At Diaco’s Garden Nursery, we have always cherished the simple joys of gardening. There’s a unique charm in watching a garden thrive, each plant telling its tale of growth. Today, we venture into an enchanting world of bush tucker plants, where beauty meets bounty, right here in the heart of Victoria, Australia.

Bush tucker plants are the jewels of Australia’s natural heritage, offering gardens a burst of ornamental beauty with their vibrant colours and diverse textures, while also providing the bonus of edible delights. Thriving in Victoria’s accommodating climate, these native plants require less upkeep, conserving water and care, and are perfectly poised to flourish, bringing life and taste to your garden throughout the seasons. As we step into the realm of these edible beauties, you’ll discover how they can brighten your garden while tickling your taste buds.

The Charm of Bush Tucker Plants

There’s an enchanting beauty in a garden full of bush tucker plants. Their leaves dance in the cool Victoria breeze as their flowers add splashes of colour to the green tapestry. Each plant is a conversation starter, with a story rooted in the Australian soil. Moreover, they invite a host of beneficial insects, promoting a lively, healthy garden.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the bush tucker stars that can grace your garden with both their beauty and edible features:

1. Saltbush

Saltbush is an eye-catcher with its soft, grey leaves that sway gently in the breeze, showcasing a silver hue that contrasts beautifully with the typical green of a garden. It grows to a modest size of about 100 to 150 centimetres. The ornamental charm of Saltbush lies in its dense, bushy form and silvery foliage which can add a unique texture and colour to your garden landscape. Its leaves, with their salty kick, can be used fresh in salads or dried and crushed into a salt substitute, adding a native twist to your culinary ventures.

2. Warrigal Greens

Warrigal Greens is a lush plant, spreading its vibrant green foliage wide, growing up to 30 to 40 centimetres in height but can spread over a metre across. It’s a beautiful ground cover that brings a lush green-ness to any garden. The leaves can be harvested and used similarly to spinach, bringing a nutty, earthy flavour to salads, pies, and stir-fries.

3. Bush Tomatoes

The Bush Tomato plant is a striking sight with its bold green foliage set against bright red fruits, growing to a height and width of around 100 to 150 centimetres. The ornamental appeal is in the contrast between the red fruit and green foliage, a visual treat during the fruiting season. These tomatoes can be used in chutneys, jams, or eaten fresh, adding a tangy zest to your dishes.

4. Samphire

Samphire is a charming coastal plant with succulent, bright green stems that stand tall, growing to about 20 to 30 centimetres. Its visual appeal is in its delicate, fleshy stems which bring a touch of the seaside to your garden. Samphire is a crunchy, salty delight that can be tossed into salads or sautéed with a bit of garlic and butter for a delicious side dish.

5. Karkalla

Karkalla is a charming succulent that boasts plump, fleshy leaves and lively flowers, typically reaching a modest height of 20 to 30 centimetres. The leaves exhibit a splendid green hue, often with a hint of red, especially when kissed by the sun. The flowers are a sight to behold with their bright pink to purple shades, exuding a cheerful essence with their daisy-like appearance. Karkalla leaves and fruits are edible treasures from the garden, carrying a salty yet slightly sweet flavour. They can be creatively tossed into salads or stir-fries, adding a unique texture and a taste to your meal.

6. Macadamia Nut

The Macadamia tree is a magnificent sight, growing to a grand height of more than 10 metres with glossy, dark green leaves. The tree’s ornamental attributes are its beautiful, long-lasting foliage and delicate, fragrant flowers. The tree produces long, slender clusters of small, delicate flowers that hang down elegantly from the branches. These flowers are typically white or pale pink and have a sweet, subtle fragrance. The clusters of blossoms gracefully drape, creating a lovely, cascading effect that adds a charm to the overall appearance of the tree. Each tiny flower, although simple in form, contributes to a spectacular overall floral display, creating a delightful spectacle when the tree is in full bloom. The nuts, once harvested, are a delicious, rich treat that can be eaten raw, roasted, or used in a variety of baking recipes.

7. Illawarra Plum

The Illawarra Plum tree, with its dark green foliage and sweet, plum-like fruit, grows to a substantial height of about 10 to 15 metres. The tree’s visual appeal lies in its elegant, spreading canopy and the deep purple hue of its fruit. The fruit is sweet and plum-like, perfect for jams, desserts, or simply enjoyed fresh.

8. Riberry

The Riberry bush is a charming sight with its dainty pink flowers and tart, red fruit, growing to a height of about 3 to 7 metres. Its beauty lies in its delicate, bell-shaped flowers and the vibrant red of its fruit against the glossy green foliage. The tart, cranberry-like fruit is perfect for jams, syrups, and sauces, or as a fresh burst of flavour in salads.

9. Finger Lime

Finger Lime is a unique and attractive bush, growing to about 2-6 metres. The ornamental beauty of this bush lies in its elongated, colourful fruit and small, delicate flowers. The fruit, often termed as ‘citrus caviar’, is filled with small, juice-filled pearls that can be used to garnish seafood, desserts, or cocktails, adding a zesty pop to your dishes.

10. Davidson’s Plum

Davidson’s Plum tree is a tall beauty, reaching a height of about 6-10 metres, with lovely, broad leaves and dark, juicy plums. With lush foliage and a dramatic contrast between the bright green leaves and the dark purple fruit, it’s easy to understand its visual appeal. The tart, vitamin C-rich plums can be used in jams, desserts, or enjoyed fresh, bringing a native, exotic flavour to your table.

Cultivating Bush Tucker Plants in Victoria

The cool winters of Victoria are a restful period for these plants, and as the warm summer sun kisses the earth, they burst into a carnival of growth and colour.

Planting is best done in spring or autumn, giving the plants time to establish before the extremes of summer or winter. A well-drained, compost-enriched soil works wonders, mimicking the native soils these plants thrive in. And while they are relatively low-maintenance, a good mulch will keep the soil moist and happy, just the way they like it.

Water is precious, and these plants respect that. Once established, most bush tucker plants require minimal watering, making them a wise choice for our Victoria gardens.

At Diaco’s, we believe that every garden tells a story, and with bush tucker plants, you’re telling a tale as ancient and rich as the Australian soil. Our friendly and passionate team at Diaco’s Garden Nursery is always here to guide you on this green journey. So come on down, share a laugh, and let’s write your garden’s story together.