Bushfoods: Atherton raspberry, native ginger and old man saltbush
2025-04-02T16:31:56+11:00
Here are three flavoursome traditional bushfoods you can grow yourself.
These plants are a good place to start if you want to add bushfoods to your fruit and vegie selection.
Atherton raspberry (pictured above) (Rubus probus)
Evergreen shrub producing large sweet tasting fruit. Originating in the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, an area known for its fertile soil, they respond well to compost.
Native ginger (Alpinia caerulea)
A popular and attractive plant for school and backyard gardens. Glossy leaves were traditionally used to wrap fish or meat to cook on a fire imparting ginger flavour. Has bright blue berries and grows up to two metres. The rhizome is edible. The traditional harvesting method was to split the plant, take one half to cook with and re-plant the other half.
Old man saltbush (Atriplex nummularia)
Large woody shrub with silver foliage used in cooking for its natural salty flavour. Prefers well-drained soil in full sun. Drought tolerant once established but will benefit from occasional watering during dry spells.
We have more bushfood growing tips in our Autumn 2025 issue (OG 156). You can get a copy here.
