Here’s my subtropical food garden’s current summer menu of 107 different kinds of root, shoot, leaf, petal, seed and fruit.

Edible roots and shoots
Arrowroot, Canna edulis;
Bamboo, Monastery, Thyrsostachys siamensis;
Beetroot, Beta vulgaris ‘McGregor’s Favourite’;
Cassava, Manihot esculenta;
Cassava, Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’;
Cocoyam, Xanthosoma saggitifolia;
Jerusalem artichoke, Helianthus tuberosus ‘Dwarf Sunray’;
Mangelwurzel, fodder beet group, Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima;
Sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas ‘Ace of Spades’;

Edible leaves
Basil, sacred, Ocimum tenuiflorum;
Cassava, Manihot esculenta;
Cassava, Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’;
Celery stem taro, aka Tahitian spinach, Alocasia esculenta;
Cha-plu, Piper sarmentosum;
Chickweed, Stellaria media;
Chicory, Cichorium intybus;
Chicory, Cichorium intybus ‘Red Dandelion’;
Chinese celery, aka smallage, Apium graveolens;
Chinese spinach, Amaranthus tricolor;
Chinese spinach, Amaranthus tricolor ‘Flaming Fountains’;
Chinese spinach, Amaranthus tricolor ‘Mekong Red’;
Chinese spinach, Amaranthus tricolor ‘Red Callaloo’;
Chives, Allium schoenoprasum;
Coriander, Coriandrum sativum;
Coriander, Thai, Eryngium foetidum;
Cranberry Hibiscus, Hibiscus acetosella;
Curry bush, Helichrysum italicum;
Curry leaf, Murraya koenigii;
Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale;
Dill, Anethum graveolens;
Endive, Cichorium endivia ‘Pancellari Fine Cut’;
Endive, Cichorium endivia ‘Green Bowl’;
Eschallot, Allium cepa var. aggregatum;
Fennel, Florence, Foeniculum vulgare Azoricum Group ‘Zefa-Fino’;
Fennel, Bronze, Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’;
Garlic chives, Allium tuberosum;
Green Amaranth, Amaranthus viridis;
Huauzontle, Chenopodium berlandieri;
Japanese parsley, Cryptotaenia japonica;
Jute, Corchorus olitorius;
Kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix;
Lagos spinach, Celosia spicata;
Landcress, Barbarea vulgaris;
Lebanese cress, Aethionema coridifolium;
Lemongrass, Cymbopogon citratus;
Lemongrass, Native, Cymbopogon flexuosus;
Marjoram, Origanum marjorana;
Mexican tree spinach, Cnidoscolus aconitifolius;
Mint, Corsican, Mentha requienii;
Mint, native, Mentha satureoides;
Mint, Moroccan, Mentha spicata;
Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus;
Old man saltbush, Atriplex nummularia;
Onion, Tree or Egyptian Walking, Allium x proliferum;
Onion, Welsh, or spring onion, aka scallion, Allium fistulosum;
Onion, Welsh perennial, or perennial spring onion, aka scallion, Allium fistulosum;
Pandan, Pandanus amaryllifolius;
Parsley, Petroselenium crispum ‘Italian flat-leaved’;
Purslane, Wild, Portulaca oleracea;
Purslane, Golden, Portulaca oleracea subsp. sativa;
Radicchio, Cichorium intybus;
Rocket, Wall or wild, Eruca saliva;
Society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea ‘Variegata’;
Society garlic, Tulbaghia violacea ‘Fairy Stars’;
Stinking Roger, Tagetes minuta;
Sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas ‘Ace of Spades’;
Sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas ‘Marguerite’;
Thyme, Variegated, Thymus serpyllum ‘Variegata’;
Variegated four seasons herb, Plectranthus amboinicus ‘Variegatus’;
Variegated four seasons herb, Plectranthus amboinicus ‘Bayside Beauty’;
Vietnamese mint, Persicaria odorata;
Warrigal greens, Tetragonia tetragonioides;

Edible petals
Bedding Begonia, Begonia semperflorens;
Cranberry Hibiscus, Hibiscus acetosella (excellent for tea);
Daylily, Hemerocallis cv.;
Fig-marigold, Aptenia cordifolia;
Goldenrod, Solidago sp.;
Rocket, Wall or wild, Eruca sativa;
Stinking Roger, Tagetes minuta;

Edible seed
Chilean wine palm, Jubaea chilensis;
Fennel, Florence, Foeniculum vulgare Azoricum Group ‘Zefa-Fino’;
Pigeon pea, Cajanus cajan;

Fruit
Banana (ripe), Musa x sapientum ‘Java Blue’;
Chilli, Capsicum annuum ‘Long Red Cayenne’;
Chilli, Capsicum annuum ‘Piri Piri’;
Chilli, Capsicum annuum ‘Siam Gold’;
Chilli, Capsicum annuum ‘Bangkok Bobby’;
Finger lime, Citrus australasica;
Kaffir lime, Citrus hystrix;
Lemon, Citrus x limon ‘Meyer’;
Lemon, Citrus x limon ‘Villa Franca Variegata’;
Lemonade, Citrus limon x aurantifolia;
Lime, Tahitian, Citrus x latifolia;
Mouse Melon, Melothria scabra;
Mulberry, White Shahtoot, Morus alba var. laevigata ‘White Shahtoot’;
Pawpaw, Carica papaya ‘Southern Red’;
Pepino, Solanum muricatum;
Pineapple, Ananas comosus ‘Queensland Rough’;
Zucchini, Curcubita pepo ‘Golden Crookneck’;

Medicinal / Spices
Aloe vera – leaf juice used to heal sunburn, scratches, and for shampoo;
Bulbine frutescens – leaf juice used to treat burns, rashes, as an infusion for sore throats;
Brahmi herb, Bacopa monnieri – aids cognitive function;
Cardamom, Eletteria cardamomum;
Cardamom, False, Alpinia nutans;
Catnip, Nepeta cataria; the juice left by rubbing elbows and ankles with fresh leaves helps deter mosquitoes;
Galangal, Alpinia galangal – spice used like ginger with similar properties;
Ginger, Culinary, Zingiber officinalis – spice that helps decongestion of catarrh, aids digestion, blood flow;
Ginger, Shampoo (species unknown) – from Seed Savers. Juice from leaves and roots (rhizomes) used to wash hair;
Greater celandine, Chelidonium majus – stem juice kills warts on hands;
Krachai (root), Boesenbergia rotunda;
Rosemary, dwarf, Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Benenden Blue’;
Rosemary, fastigiate, Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Miss Jessopp’;
Skullcap, Blue, Scutellaria lateriflora (young plants);
Turmeric, Curcuma longa – spice with anti-cancer, anti-stress properties;

107 taxa

Jerry Coleby-Williams
31st January 2015