High in antioxidants and fibre. Captain Cook’s crew ate it aboard the Endeavour to prevent scurvy and it was the first Australian edible to be cultivated overseas. Can be used just like spinach.
Like nasturtiums makes a great pesto (who needs spinach and basil anyway, the capricious creatures!)
Completely smothers weeds, so excellent under fruit trees (just be careful to cut it away from other smaller plants so it doesn’t just plow over them)
Disease and pest resistant
Self-seeds readily and is easily propagated by cutting, just snap it off and shove it in the ground like elderflower and it will just keep on growing.

Tough, drought tolerant and longlived
Can grow in very poor soils, it has thrived in the dry, compacted edges of the food forest
Seeds can be ground for damper, or the dried leaves used as a garnish
Leaves can be used in salads, blanched to wrap fish or even in fritters
Prostrate forms are a vigorous groundcover that are like a carpet so they don’t smother like warrigal greens; shrubs can be shaped to form a low hedge

Repels insects and vermin
An excellent hedging plant, often seen in British hedgerows, birds and bees love it.
Flowers make delicious elderflower cordial
Elderflower fritters are also yummy
Strike extremely easily from cuttings, I have cut twigs and just poked them in the ground and they have sprouted!

Good companions crop “banker” to attract predatory insects which reduce aphids, spider mites, thrips and white fly on nearby plants
Self-sows easily
Chewing the leaves is said to reduce migraines, but as with all medicinal plants it is best left to the experts, pregnant women in particular should avoid self medicating with medicinal herbs
Creates a compact 30cm hedge that is great for delineating borders, pretty daisy flowers
Dried sachets can be used to deter moths from clothing
Yellow dye can be made from the leaves and stems

It is high in antioxidants and it studies with mice was shown to prevent damage to the liver.
Similar taste to commercial raspberries
Hardier in this climate than commercial raspberries, can be shawn off at the base whilst in leaf and resprout within weeks (It was accident, but it came back even bushier!)
Self-fertile, but more success by layering – takes root where canes touch the ground
Tolerates full sun to full shade, but more likely to fruit with sun exposure.

Good companion to bush beans, celery, carrots, nasturtium, mint, dill, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, rosemary, potatoes
Cover crop, is an effective biofumigant that will overwinter. Before it sets seed chop to the ground and incorporate into soil. Suppresses weeds, fungal pathogens and insects.
Minimises surface compaction with its tap root.
Young leaves great in salads
Self-seeds readily

Good companion, increases volatile oils in plants e.g. valerian, mint, sage and rosemary
Compost activator
Makes a delicious pesto, but harvest when leaves are young for best flavour. Great on pizza as well as pasta.
Winter forage for chooks, even increases egg production!
Habitat for butterflies and other beneficial insects.

Roots are fantastic in stirfries.
Roots can also be used as a coffee substitute for those trying to kick the addiction, but love the ritual.
Flowers and young leaves are great in salads
High in vitamins and nutrients especially calcium, iron and vitamin A & C.
Spreads readily via their puff ball seeds, grows anywhere.

Good companion of Borage, Lettuce, Spinach, Sage
Groundcover to exclude weeds (especially wild strawberries) Look lovely on borders as a barrier to grass.
We had surprising success with strawberries in the food forest wild and standard, they have survived very dry conditions and although those in the driest spots did not fruit as well we still have gotten a constant trickle of fruit this spring, can’t wait until summer! we just ate them straight off the bush.
Try this strawberry chia seed jam
Spreads via runners

High in Vitamin & minerals, especially A, C & iron
Dynamic accumulator – long tap roots mine for nutrients so it is not only good for breaking up compacted soil, but a good cover crop which can be slashed to add nutrients to the top soil
Grows in sun or shade
Leaves add a nice lemony taste to salads or soup
Drought tolerant
Grows from seed or by division

Kids love finding these sweet treats, we just let the plants sprawl.
I’m sure I don’t really need to give you any recipes, but this is a chance to send a shout out to two of my favourite cooking blogs vegie num num and green kitchen stories
Cherry tomatoes are hardier and faster to ripen than larger varieties
Cherry tomatoes require less heat/sun hours
A surprise favourite in the food forest that seemed to come up of its own accord. We let it go to seed and sure if they sprang up again this spring.

Forms a low hedge, so good for borders
Create a soothing tea from the leaves, considered a mild anti-depressant
Can be used in baking – how about lemon balm biscuits?
Flowers attract beneficial insects
Self-seeder

Strong scent repels cabbage moth so plant near brassicas
Doesn’t quite taste like basil, but has its own delicious flavour that I love adding to Banh Xeo
Can be pruned to form a low hedge for borders
High essential oil content
Great filler, like mint it spreads by runners

This is included in a list of “plants that benefit everything” with lemon balm
Tea from leaves good for sorethroats and aids digestion
Pretty delicate leaves, flowers attract beneficial insects
In our garden golden marjoram is far more vigorous than oregano
Keeps full flavour when dried, mmm…tomato marjoram dip