Bush Tucker Plants and their Uses
GENUS/SPECIES | COMMON NAME | FOOD USE | ABORIGINAL USE |
---|---|---|---|
Acacia longifolia | Sydney Golden Wattle | green seeds steamed in pods | y |
Acmena smithii | Creek Lillypilly | fruit | y |
Alpinia caerulea | Ginger | edible fruit, young root tips | y |
Araucaria bidwilli | Bunya Nut | nuts | y |
Archirhodomyrtus becklari | Rose Myrtle | edible fruits | |
Arthropodium milleflorum | Vanilla Lily | small fleshy roots edible | |
Austromyrtus dulcis | Midyim | berries can be eaten raw | y |
Backhousia citriodora | Lemon Myrtle | leaves for tea, flavouring | y |
Baeckea virgata | Twiggy Myrtle | leaves a tea substitute | y |
Banksia spp. | Banksias | nectar soaked from flowers overnight | y |
Billardiera scandens | Apple Berry | ripe purple fruits | |
Brachychiton populneus | Kurrajong | roasted seeds | y |
Callistemon spp. | Bottlebrush | stamens for tea | |
Cissus antarctica | Kangaroo Vine | raw berries eaten | y |
Cupaniopsis spp. | Tuckaroo | edible orange fruit | y |
Davidsonia pruriens | Davidson's Plum | juicy purple fruit | y |
Davidsonia pruriens | Davidson's Plum | juicy purple fruit | y |
Diplogottis campbelii | Tamarind | pulp of fruit for drinks and jams | |
Eucalyptus gummifera | Red Bloodwood | nectar soaked from flowers | y |
Ficus spp. | Figs | ripe fruit eaten | y |
Gahnia spp. | Saw Sedges | leaf buds and seeds ground to flour | y |
Grevillea spp. | Grevilleas | nectar soaked from flowers | y |
Hardenbergia violacea | Sarsaparilla | leaves a tea substitute | y |
Hibiscus heterophyllus | Native Rosella | flower buds, young shoots raw or cooked | y |
Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia | Bopple Nut | similar to macadamia usage | |
Leptospermum petersonii | Lemon-Scented Tea Tree | leaves a tea substitute | y |
Linospadyx monostachys | Walking Stick Palm | edible fruits | |
Lomandra confertifolia | Mat Rush | flowers eaten | y |
Lomandra longifolia | Mat Rush | white leaf bases eaten | y |
Macadamia spp. | Macadamia | Nut nuts | y |
Melaleuca spp. | Paperbarks | flowers sucked or soaked for drink | y |
Melastoma affine | Blue Tongue | sweet (sometimes bitter) fruit | y |
Mentha spp. | Native Mints | aromatic herbs | |
Microcitrus australasica | Finger Lime | sour citrus fruit raw or crushed for drink | y |
Podocarpus spp. | Plum Pines | purplish stalk of fruit eaten | y |
Prostanthera incisa | Cut-Leaf Mint Bush | dried leaves used for flavouring | |
Randia fitzalanii Yellow | Mangasteen | raw yellow fruit | y |
Sollya heterophylla | Bluebell Creeper | small black fruits | y |
Syzygium luehmanni | Riberry | bright red fruits with spicy taste | y |
Syzygium spp. | Lilly Pilly | pink fruits great for jam | |
Tasmannia spp. | Pepper Tree | leaves and seeds used for flavouring | |
Tetragona tetragonoides | Warrigal Greens | blanched leaves used like spinach | y |
Viola hederacea | Native Violet | flowers can be used in salads | |
Wahlenbergia spp. | Bluebell | flowers can be used in salads |


Ceratopetalum gummiferum 'Alberys Red' - NSW Christmas Bush
H: 3-4m
W: 2m
Red bracts at Christmas make this a stand out in the garden. Water and feed well while establishing and prune after flowering to maintain a bushy habit. Mulch well for summer heat.
