West Indian Arrowroot PLANT – Obedience Plant, Bermuda Arrowroot, Araru – Maranta arundinacea

West Indian Arrowroot – Maranta arundinacea is an evergreen easy-to-grow plant. It produces white rhizomes with a pleasant nutty flavour that can be eaten raw, baked, and in stir-fries. The younger tubers are less fibrous and therefore more enjoyable. West Indian Arrowroot is the true arrowroot variety which is commercially used for arrowroot flour production. I have it growing in a few places in the food forest and harvest as required. It is not related to the QLD Arrowroot – Canna Edulis.

Interesting facts about Maranta arundinacea: ” As a soothing agent and treatment for digestive issues, arrowroot is commonly used in folk and Ayurvedic medicine in Sri Lanka and is locally called “Hulankeeriya” or “Aerukka.” Due to its limited availability and time-consuming starch extraction process, The utilization of arrowroot in the food industry is limited and primarily restricted to dishes such as porridge, boiled rhizomes with grated coconut, and curry, but it is a gluten-free alternative to wheat flour that can be used in food preparations [11]. Recently, it was discovered that arrowroot starch could be used in baked goods, ice cream stabilizers, jellies, cakes, and infant food [2,12]. While the potential of this starch in food preparations has not been fully exploited. Due to its excellent digestibility, arrowroot is useful for infants, the elderly, patients with digestive issues, and those with celiac disease [1,13].(Malki et.al. 2023)”

Planting and growing tips:

1. Give it a good drink and place it in a half-shade position out of the wind.
2. Leave it in the original pot for a few days until it recovers from the journey.
3. Re-pot or plant into the ground at the latest when the roots start to come out of the bottom holes.
4. Watering straight after planting is essential! From then on as required.
5. It doesn’t like to sit in water so a well-drained position is best. All our edibles grow happily and quickly in slightly raised garden beds.
6. It grows best in full sun and partial shade and in many types of soil, however, the better the soil, the quicker and better the plant will grow.

Additional notes:

• The price is for one young plant supplied in a small pot, naturally grown with lots of love in my permaculture food forest in Pacific Haven QLD Australia. Sending within Australia only, not to NORFOLK ISLAND, NT, SA, TAS, or WA. Pick up by appointment only.
• The image of the potted plants is just an example.
• Most of our nursery plants grow in a half-shade. Introducing them to the sun slowly before replanting them to their permanent position will promote healthy growth.
• Do your research before trying any new foods. Please also note our disclaimer in the footer of this page.

References: Malki, K. S., Wijesinghe, A. C., Ratnayake, M. K., & Thilakarathna, G. C. (2023). Characterization of arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) starch as a potential starch source for the food industry. Heliyon, 9(9). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20033