Practical
Plants

Suaeda australis

Seablite

an annual member of the Suaeda genus in the family Chenopodiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Suaeda
Life cycle
annual
Height
0.3 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Stem tips - raw. A salty flavour with a crisp and pleasant texture, they go well in salads and can also be boiled as a vegetable when they have a taste like salty beans[1][3]. Young shoots - pickled[1][3].

Plant part
Leaves

Environment

Range
Australia - New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria.
Habitat
Salt flats by the coast, inland salt pans and sandbanks behind mangroves[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
high wind, maritime exposure
Wind
Yes
Maritime
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant
Salinity
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - sow spring in situ.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in the milder parts of this country. It is very similar to S. maritima, its only difference being that it is more woody[2]. It dislikes shade, see the plants native range for other ideas on its cultivation needs.

References

  1. Cribb. A. B. and J. W. Wild Food in Australia. Fontana 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-00-634436-4

    ↩1↩2

  2. Ewart. A. J. Flora of Victoria.

    ↩

  3. Low. T. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-207-14383-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Carolin. R. & Tindale. M. Flora of the Sydney Region Reed. Australia. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0730104001

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