ABC_Organic_Gardener_-_November_2019

ORGANIC PLANT

18

PHOTOS: TOP: ISTOCK/CENTRE & BOTTOM: ALAMY

Climate Zone Key:

Tropical subTropical Arid/Semi-Arid Warm Temperate Cold Temperate

15cmH

25cmW

Plant

seed in

spring-

autumn

Fullsun

15cmH

1m W

Plant

anytime

Full sun

ICE PLANT

Mesembryanthemumcrystallinum

Ice plant is a prostrate succulent native to South Africa,

although it has naturalised in some parts of Australia.

Ice plant gets its name from the attractive frosty

appearance of its leaves, which are covered in glistening

water storage cells. Usually grown in the garden as an

annual, it can be grown in well-drained soil, or in a pot,

to better show off the unusual leaves. The leaves make

an interesting addition to a salad or can be used as a

garnish. They can also be used crushed as a soap substitute.

Ice plant is usually grown from seed, which can be bought

from various online suppliers (as with purslane).

PURSLANE

Portulacaoleracea

Thought of as a weed, purslane is native to Australia and

can be grown from Tasmania to the tropics, as well as being

widely distributed and eaten around the world. This hardy

plant thrives in poor soil and summer’s heat. Purslane is

very nutritious, with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids,

and good levels of other nutrients. The leaves and stems

can be eaten as a crunchy salad addition, or cooked with

tomato and onion. The flowers are edible, and indigenous

Australians traditionally ground the seeds into seedcakes.

An annual, plants will just appear in spring in some regions

or you can buy seed from online suppliers such as Eden

Seeds (edenseeds.com.au), Green Harvest (greenharvest.

com.au) or The Diggers Club (diggers.com.au).

KARKALLA

Carpobrotus rossii

Karkalla (also known as pigface, coastal raspberry, sea fig)

is a hardy perennial ground cover native to Australia with

thick succulent leaves and bright-pink flowers. The leaves

are edible raw, although younger shoots are tastier.

If cooking the leaves, soak first in cold water. Karkalla

tolerates a range of soil types and also copes well with

strong winds. The fruit occurs on plants at least 2–

years old, is ripe when red, and is eaten by squeezing

the flesh out of the tough outer skin. Fruits are salty,

sweet and delicious. Grow from cuttings dried for two

days before planting. Rub broken leaves on insect bites to

relieve itchiness. Available from native plant nurseries.

Ground

cover to

20cmH

50cmW

Plant

seed in

spring

Full

sun