Plant Finder

Corn on the cob is a perennial family favourite and really fresh corn has a unique sweet flavour. Corn is a fast growing hungry plant up to 2m high but will usually provide small fruit even if conditions are not ideal. In temperate zones plant in Spring for a late summer harvest.

This refreshing plant requires plentiful moisture and is best pot grown as it can take over and once established will keep returning. Mint grows in various flavours, makes a wonderful addition to salads, drinks and tea. It grows all year round, is a heavy feeder and a delight in the garden.

Curly parsely is for looking at, flat parsely has the flavour. A staple of Italian tomato pasta sauces and the only decent sort of scrambled eggs you can never have too much parsely, and in a good straw mulch after a few rainy days it self seeds!

A great plant for children they are hardy and eye catching. Leaves and flowers are also edible, although the leaves are a little spicy for children.

A fine sturdy vegetable kind to inexperienced gardeners it is also a source of iron. Plant Spring to Autumn this plant provides structure to garden beds and a plentiful harvest for the kitchen. Silverbeet is quite a heavy feeder so lots of compost and regular watering.

Snow Peas are a spring garden delight, sweet and edible straight off the plant they don't require shelling or preparation and make an attractive children's treat. In temperate zones plant in winter and spring on tripod or lattice in the garden in rich compost with regular watering

Another english garden staple it is worth noting some strains are much less bitter than others, and baby spinach leaves are mild enough to eat uncooked in salads. This is a valuable cool season vegetable in temperate climes, planted in Autumn, Winter and early Spring.

Another garden delight, especially for children. This one repays daily checking and fruit can be eaten straight off the plant. In temperate zones plant runners in autumn and spring, mulch generously with straw and harvest from summer into late autumn. Fortunately runners will bear fruit for two years before needing to be replaced.

Queen of the summer fruit, tomatoes need warm, sheltered conditions, rich soil, good drainage. Tomatos are susceptible to slow growth in cool conditions, nematode and wilt. Its worth it for the first home grown tomato of summer on fresh bread with a little salt, basil and rocket. Plant in Spring and Summer in temperate zones.

A robust herb, improved by dry conditions and poor soil. The flavor complements meat dishes, particularly lamb.

Cabbage makes a surprisingly delicious cooking ingredient but the visual impact of these magnificent leaves in the winter vegetable garden should also not be underestimated. These plants are heavy feeders and do best in cool climates.

A true kitchen garden plant. Garlic is easy to grow from cloves and this has the advantage of allowing you to pick a variety you like the taste of. Russian garlic is large but very mild and is a spectacular addition to the vegetable garden. Garlic can be confusing to grow because you harvest them after the plant has died off. The simple rule of thumb is to plant them on the shortest day of the year and harvest them on the longest day of the year.

Cheerful flowering perennials often quite hardy and particularly suitable for pots and planters. Geraniums make popular bedding plants in the garden, but they’re also commonly grown indoors or outside in hanging baskets. Growing geranium plants is easy as long as you can give them what they need.

Lemongrass is native to India and tropical Asia. It is widely used as a herb in Asian cuisine. It has a subtle citrus flavor and can be dried and powdered, or used fresh. Lemongrass is commonly used in teas, soups, and curries. It is also suitable for poultry, fish, beef, and seafood.

Desert tolerant Euphorbia with red flowers in image. This is a succulent climbing shrub growing to about 2m tall. Flowers are small,red, pink or white and the sap is poisonous.

A small tree from India and Sri Lanka of 4-6 metres with pinnate leaves used fresh for food seasoning. This plant has significant weed potential.

A small tree that blooms in creamy white, green and yellow, has blue-green leaves and is not only a source of food, but also a place of shade. This slender mallee grows in height to 7m.

A slim bush or tree about 16m tall. The tree is drought hardy and the timber is commercially valuable and is fungal and termite resistant. The tree has a range of aboriginal uses.

Jonquil Erlicheer has highly fragrant clusters of cream blooms. These are one of the first spring bulbs to flower, often beginning in late winter. Jonquils have a hardy growth habit, are good multipliers and are also strongly fragranced, adding this extra dimension to your garden or pots. Very reliable in warmer climates and good in cooler climates and where Winters become extremely cold.

A small tree to 8m high the highly scented iconic flowers and glossy green leaves have made this tree popular worldwide. The tree is moderately drought tolerant in tropical and subtropical areas, being able to withstand an extended dry season.