Queensland Arrowroot PLANT – Canna edulis – Edible Canna – Heirloom & Untreated – Hardy Starch‑Producing Perennial
Bring a piece of Queensland’s agricultural history into your garden with this heirloom, untreated Queensland Arrowroot plant (Canna edulis). This hardy, clump‑forming perennial produces large, starchy rhizomes. You can grow this versatile, low‑maintenance plant in a sunny garden bed, a large pot, or a spot near a pond or swale.
Queensland Arrowroot is a vigorous, upright perennial that can reach up to 2.5 metres tall, with large, lush green leaves that often have a bronze tint. In summer and autumn, it produces stunning panicles of iris‑like, bright red or orange flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. The plant spreads via underground rhizomes to form large clumps, even in poor soils. It can be grown outdoors in warm, frost‑free climates or inside your home in a large, bright container, making it accessible to gardeners across Australia.
Uses:
Edible Rhizomes: The large, red‑skinned tubers can be eaten fresh, boiled, steamed, roasted, barbecued, or diced finely and added to stir‑fries, casseroles, stews, and soups. They look and taste similar to potato but hold their shape well during cooking. Young tubers (about the size of a tennis ball) have the best flavour; older ones can become fibrous.
Gluten‑Free Flour & Thickener: The rhizomes can be dried and ground into a flour, making an excellent gluten‑free alternative for baking. Used as a thickener in cooking, it produces a clear, glossy sauce – perfect for fruit sauces, gravies, and desserts.
Young Shoots & Leaves: Tender young shoots and shredded leaves can be added to stir‑fries or used as edible wrappers for food.
Chop & Drop Mulch: The abundant foliage provides an excellent ongoing source of chop‑and‑drop mulch, helping to build soil fertility and retain moisture.
Animal Fodder: Leaves and tubers can be fed to chickens, goats, cows, ducks, and pigs. Plant it next to the chicken coop to provide shade and a steady source of nutritious greens.
Living Fence & Windbreak: The tall, dense growth provides a natural windbreak, privacy screen, and edible living fence.
Water Management: Thrives in wet soils, making it ideal for planting alongside water on steep banks, in swales, or in greywater systems.
Nutrients & Health Benefits:
Queensland Arrowroot is not just a versatile food source – it also offers a range of nutritional benefits:
Vitamins: The rhizomes contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6, and C.
High Potassium: An excellent source of potassium, which supports heart and muscle function.
Gluten‑Free: A naturally gluten‑free flour, making it suitable for those with gluten sensitivities or coeliac disease.
Resistant Starch: The starch from Canna edulis contains type 3 resistant starch (RS3), an insoluble dietary fibre that has been shown to help regulate lipid metabolism and support gut health.
Protein Content: Young leaves and shoots are nutritious and contain around 10% protein.
Note: Always do your own research before using any plant medicinally or making significant dietary changes. The information provided is for educational purposes only.
Growing Conditions & Planting Tips:
Queensland Arrowroot is remarkably easy to grow and incredibly forgiving. Follow these guidelines for success.
Climate: Perennial in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate regions (QLD, NSW, VIC, SA). It is frost‑tender and cannot withstand prolonged freezing. In cooler areas, grow it in a large pot and move it indoors or into a greenhouse during winter, or lift the rhizomes in autumn after frost has blackened the foliage and store them in barely moist compost in a frost‑free place.
Position: Prefers full sun for the best growth and rhizome production, but will tolerate partial shade. A warm, sheltered spot is ideal.
Soil: Not fussy – it will grow in most soil types, including clay and sand. However, it performs best in fertile, well‑draining loam with a neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.0–7.0). It can tolerate poor soils but will produce larger rhizomes in richer ground.
Watering: Requires regular watering, especially during the growing season. It can tolerate temporary waterlogging and even some standing water, making it suitable for wet areas, swales, and greywater gardens. However, excessive moisture can promote foliage growth at the expense of tuber development. It can also withstand periods of drought once established.
Fertilising: Benefits from compost or organic fertiliser applied during active growth. Regular chop‑and‑drop mulching with its own leaves will provide plenty of fertility.
Spacing: Space plants about 1 metre apart to allow room for the clumps to spread. Plant rhizomes about 10–15 cm deep, with the growing bud facing upward.
Pruning: Remove old, dead leaves as needed. Cut back spent flower stalks after flowering.
Container growing: Grows well in large pots at least 40–50 cm deep and wide. Use a quality potting mix with good drainage, and water regularly. Container‑grown plants will need more frequent watering and feeding than those in the ground.
Care After Receiving Your Plant:
Your Queensland Arrowroot plant has been grown with love. Follow these steps for a smooth transition:
Unpack immediately – Remove the plant from packaging. Check the soil; if dry, give it a light drink.
Rest & recover – Place the plant in a sheltered, shaded spot out of strong wind for 2–3 days to reduce transplant shock.
Slow sun introduction – Most of our plants grow in partial shade. If you plan to move it to a sunnier position, do so gradually over 5–7 days to avoid leaf burn.
Transplant – Re‑pot into a larger container (at least 40 cm deep) or plant directly into the ground when roots fill the current pot. Space multiple plants about 1 metre apart.
Planting depth – Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball. Place the rhizome with the growing bud facing upward, just below the soil surface.
Water in well – Give it a deep, thorough watering straight after planting. Thereafter, keep the soil consistently moist, especially during the growing season.
Mulch lightly – A thick layer of sugar cane or straw mulch helps retain moisture and suppress weeds, but keep it away from the stems.
No fertiliser for 2 weeks – Let the plant settle before feeding.
Harvesting & Storage:
Harvesting: Rhizomes can be harvested after 4–6 months, but the best time is in late autumn or early winter when the foliage begins to die back. Use a garden fork to carefully lift the rhizomes from the soil. Young tubers (about the size of a tennis ball) have the best flavour and texture.
Storage: Wash the rhizomes and store them in a cool, dark place. Alternatively, leave them in the ground and harvest as needed – they will keep well in the soil.
What You Will Receive:
One young, healthy Queensland Arrowroot in a small pot, grown untreated and heirloom, naturally with love in my permaculture food forest (Pacific Haven, QLD).
Shipping & Important Notes:
Dispatch: We usually send plants on Mondays to ensure they arrive fresh and before the weekend.
Shipping locations: Sending within Australia only, excluding Norfolk Island, NT, SA, TAS, and WA.
Pickup: Available by appointment from Pacific Haven, QLD.
Please Note: Do your own research before trying any new foods. Also refer to our full disclaimer in the footer of this page.
