Canna Lilies are something you will find in lots of gardens, you possibly have them growing in your own garden and didn’t realise that the bulbs and roots are edible!
In the Edible Forest, we grow 2 varieties, especially for their large bulbs; The Canna Lily Achira (canna edulis red) and the Queensland Arrowroot (canna edulis).
Cannas are a rich source of starch with health benefits including:
- Rich in calcium, iron + phosphorus
- High in vitamins B1, B2 + C
- Beneficial for weight loss
- Great for the skin
- Promotes heart health
When is harvest time for the bulbs? At the end of winter, cut the stems down to the ground, then the bulbs can be harvested. Simply break off the bulb and prepare with your other vegetables. If roasting, they will go translucent in colour and taste similar to a Taro root. Perhaps you might like to incorporate them in your next batch of mashed potato?
The young roots can also be harvested and used as a vegetable. We use the large leaves for presentation instead of a plate when serving little canapes.
Although gardeners enjoy the odd flowers, nature really intended them to attract pollinators collecting nectar and pollen, such as bees and hummingbirds.
Remember – food is all around us!
