Edible native plant options that thrive in shade | Australian native plants | Gardening Australia

Clarence looks at a range of edible Australian plants that can provide a crop in a shaded position. Subscribe 🔔 http://ab.co/GA-subscribe
Starting at the ground level where most people have shade in the garden, is often under the canopy of established trees. To survive these conditions, you need plants that can both handle low light and be shallow rooted, to be able to persist above the trees’ roots.

GROUND LEVEL:
Warrigal Greens
If there’s a good survivor, it’s Tetragonia tetragonioides 'Warrigal greens' that can take it all, from growing in saline soils, in full sun, right down to heavy shade. The nutritious fleshy leaves and stems are edible once cooked and be used like spinach and will freely self-seed in most gardens. Stick it in a shady spot and wave the hose over it occasionally. After growing Warrigal Greens, you might even give the primadonna English spinach the boot!

Midyim Berry
Austromyrtus dulcis 'Midyim berry' is a low, spreading shrub rather than a true groundcover, but fills a similar niche in the garden. The sweet, edible berries taste like blueberries (but less fussy) and have become a classic edible native. It’ll do best where it’s getting part shade, so think of a spot like under a deciduous tree or something without a dense canopy.

CLIMBERS:
Apple Berry
Moving up in the world is Billardiera scandens 'Apple berry'. This is a loose, straggly climber. The furry leaves show this is a plant that knows how to get by without much water. The prize is the oblong berries that ripen to a yellow colour and taste like green apple pie. This is a great one to grow in that tricky full shade spot we’ve all got - like up a side fence that’s shadowed by your house.

CLUMPERS:
Blue Flax Lily
Slightly larger again is Dianella longifolia 'Blue flax lily'. These are a garden staple and used widely in plantings in public landscapes, and for good reason. They can take a wide range of conditions, including part shade. They produce spikes of purple flowers, followed by blue/purple berries which are edible!

SHRUBS AND TREES:
Native Hibiscus
If you’re after a shrub Hibiscus heterophylla 'Native hibiscus' is a great, small to medium shrub for screening. It will do best in full sun however often found as an understory plant in its natural range, thriving in part shade. It won’t be as dense and leafy, but will continue to put on beautiful delicate hibiscus flowers which can be turned into teas or jams.

Mountain Pepper
Another shrub to a small tree is Tasmannia lanceolata 'Mountain pepper'. It is native to the woodlands and cool temperate rainforests of Australia’s south-eastern region, and it’s used to growing in the company of taller trees obscuring the light. Provided it doesn’t dry out too much, this plant will fit into shady areas of your garden, where it will produce spicy, edible berries. The leaves are also edible but watch out, they pack more of a punch.

Lemon Myrtle
If you’re after a genuine tree, put your money on Backhousia citriodora 'Lemon myrtle'. A slow grower, it can reach up to 20 metres, but it’s used to having to get by on little light in the forest canopy until it gets there. It does need some extra water over summer if you’re in a drier climate, but the reward is the fragrant leaves and flowers, now a well known pioneer in true Australian cuisine.

Shade shouldn’t be an excuse for empty areas of your garden. And it shouldn’t be a reason not to grow some genuine Australian food.


Featured Plants:
WARRIGAL GREENS - Tetragonia tetragonoides
MIDYIM BERRY - Austromyrtus dulcis
APPLE BERRY - Billardiera scandens
BLUE FLAX LILY - Dianella longifolia
RAINFOREST PLUM - Davidsonia pruriens
NATIVE PEPPERBERRY - Tasmannia lanceolata
LEMON MYRTLE - Backhousia citriodora

Filmed on Dharawal Country | Heathcote, NSW
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