Native Bush Food
Native bush foods are adapted to Australian conditions in a way introduced crops rarely are — many need little more than the right position and some patience. These 13 guides cover natives from coastal groundcovers like pigface to long-term trees like the bunya nut.
Blue Tongue
Melastoma affine · Melastomataceae, native to Australia
Bunya Nut
Araucaria bidwillii · Araucariaceae, native to Australia
Davidson's Plum
Davidsonia spp. · Cunoniaceae, native to Australia
Finger Lime
Citrus australasica · Rue family, native to Australia — see full guide in Citrus
Kakadu Plum
Terminalia ferdinandiana · Combretaceae, native to Australia
Lemon Myrtle
Backhousia citriodora · Myrtle family, native to Australia
Lilly Pilly
Syzygium australe · Myrtaceae, native to Australia
Midyim Berry
Austromyrtus dulcis · Myrtle family, native to Australia
Muntries
Kunzea pomifera · Myrtle family, native to Australia
Native Pepperberry
Tasmannia lanceolata · Winteraceae, native to Australia
Old Man Saltbush
Atriplex nummularia · Chenopodiaceae, native to Australia
Pigface (Karkalla)
Carpobrotus rossii · Aizoaceae, native to Australia
Warrigal Greens
Tetragonia tetragonioides · Fig-marigold family
Frequently Asked Questions
Are native bush food plants harder to grow than regular vegetables?
Not usually — most are actually well-adapted to Australian conditions with less fuss than introduced species, since they evolved for local soils, rainfall, and temperature swings rather than needing them corrected for.
Where can I find native bush food seedlings or seeds?
Specialist native plant nurseries are the most reliable source, and increasingly some mainstream garden centres now stock a small native bush food range as interest in the category grows.