Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
Australia has a deluge of gorgeous native plants that have medicinal properties. While indigenous knowledge utilises our country’s plants, it’s not commonly known that you can grow alternative medicines in your backyard. Until now. Presenting our 3 part series to help you plant smart and keep healthy. All the plants featured in this series can flourish in Australian backyards, and all have the potential to help you heal yourself holistically.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
1. Tea tree Its distinctive astringent scent gives you an idea of this plant’s antiseptic properties. While the indigenous Australians were the first to be clever enough to use it as such, it’s since become a staple in many a first aid kid and medicine cabinet as a natural antibacterial ointment.
Therapeutic benefits In the 1920s, scientific experiments proved that the tea-tree oil was a far stronger antiseptic than anything used at the time. Nowadays tea tree oil is used for everything from acne to fungal skin infections. Indigenous Australians have used the Melaleuca viridiflora tea tree variety for treating fevers, and the Melaleuca variety for treating coughs and colds. The Bundjalung Aboriginal people from the coast of New South Wales also crushed tea-tree leaves and applied the paste to wounds.
How to grow Australian tea trees These plants are quite hardy, and once established they don’t require too much care. When planting, avoid clay and hardpacked soils and go for something fast draining and loamy. You should also try to give your smaller trees about 3 to 6 feet or space, and large varieties around 15 to 20 feet. Tea trees only require partial to full sunlight, and a weekly water during their growing phase. From the established phase onwards you will only need to water when it’s very hot and dry out.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
2. Goat’s foot This creeper plant will often bring to mind the ocean. It’s common to see the signature purple flowers dominating coastal gardens and Australia’s sandy coast fringes. The leathery leaves form a cleft shape almost like a goat’s hoof, and come with contrastingly delicate funnelled flowers.
Therapeutic benefits First Australians from Northern Australia and in some parts of New South Wales used goat’s foot leaves to relieve pain from stingray and stonefish stings. Once crushed, the leaves were then heated and applied straight onto the affected skin.
How to grow goat’s foot Give yourself plenty of room, because this plant will not be contained. Goat’s foot makes an excellent ground covering plant, and thrives even in sandy arid soil. Goat’s foot does well even in dry areas, as it grows deep taproots that seek out its own water. It can handle all the harshness of oceanic conditions, including heat, salt and wind.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
3. Aloe vera This plant has been used for its medicinal properties since biblical times. There are a lot of ailments than can be soothed from having a pot or two of aloe vera about the house, including sunburn, cuts, rashes, and digestive issues. Aloe vera is even used as a beauty treatment sometimes.
Therapeutic benefits Aloe vera sap is the part of the plant that contains the good stuff. This sap will speed up healing and reduce the risk of infections for various wounds, burns of all kinds, and inflamed skin conditions like eczema. You can also take the sap or aloe vera juice internally for treating ulcerative colitis, indigestion and chronic constipation.
How to grow aloe vera Aloe vera is a succulent plant made up of 95% water, so any frosty cold environments will freeze it to death. Grow your aloe vera plants outside in warm climates – they love full sunshine or lightly shaded areas the most. They do well kept in their pots by a window; it’s only advised to plant your aloe vera if you are in a place with consistently mild weather year round.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
4. Echinacea This daisy-like perennial plant provides lots of relief for colds, coughs and inflammations, as a general boost to the immune system. While native to North America, this no-nonsense plant can survive in a variety of climates, and doesn’t need much water to flourish. It was once used by the Native Americans as an application for stings and bites from insects and snakes.
Therapeutic benefits Taking echinacea is said to reduce the length and severity of the common cold, especially when you start taking it at the first sign of symptoms. The most common medicinal varieties are Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia and E. pallida. Make your own echinacea medicine by finely chopping a few leaves and squeezing the pulp through a strainer to get a dose of about half a teaspoon. Adults are recommended to take about three doses per day, starting fresh each time. Please note that this medicine is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children under two, those with allergies to the Asteraceae plant family, or those taking immunosuppressive medicines.
How to grow echinacea The good news about planting echinacea is that it doesn’t require much water at all – perfect for our changing climate. It grows well when planted in drifts in a low maintenance gravel garden, garden bed or field. It will also attract butterflies and bees to your garden.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
5. Pawpaw These tasty tropical fruits are not only a yummy treat in summer – they contain a huge amount of vitamins and antioxidants that can keep you at optimum health.
Therapeutic benefits Pawpaw fruits are an excellent source of antioxidants, which have been shown to protect against chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. They are also high in carotenes, and vitamins C and A.
How to grow pawpaw You can easily grow your own pawpaw from the seeds of a fruit. Keep the seeds from a pawpaw you find particularly tasty, especially if it was also grown in your area. As a tropical fruit, pawpaw are sensitive to frost, but this can be combated by choosing a sheltered spot for your pawpaw plants. Once planted, you will need a mixture of males and females in order to pollinate the flowers that will lead to fruit. You’ll probably want to thin the males, as only one male is necessary to fertilise up to eight female pawpaw trees. You can identify the male pawpaw trees by the long stems on their flowers.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
6. Passionfruit These evergreen vines bear delicious fruits in the warmer months. As well as being tasty, there are a swathe of health benefits that make passionfruit a great vine to add to your garden.
Therapeutic benefits Passion Fruit contains alkaloids, which give a calming effect. There are also a host of strong antioxidants to keep your immune system uplifted. These trace goodies include b-carotenes, potassium, carotenoids, riboflavin and Cryptoxanthin-ß.
How to grow passionfruit Because passionfruit originate from warm areas, they flourish best in temperate to tropical warmth and full sun. It is possible to grow them in cooler areas, as long as the frost is kept at bay. Give them space for their deep roots and room to grow – balconies, wire fences and pergolas are all great locations. You can get a grafted variety of passionfruit so that you don’t have to worry about cross-pollination. Good ones include ‘Golden Casket’, ‘Lacey’, ‘Purple Gold’, ‘Panama Red’ and ‘Panama Gold’. If you live in a cool climate ‘Nelly Kelly’ is a good one to try. Watch out for suckering though! Passionfruit vines can easily fall victim to the woody passionfruit virus, so it’s a good idea to start a new one every three years or so. It usually takes between 12 and 18 months for a vine to reach the size where they will bear fruit. Finally, get the most out of your passionfruit vine with regular watering and pruning. Pruning lets the sunlight filter through the leaves to ripen your fruits to sweet perfection, and also controls the fast growth and encourage new growth.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
7. Lemon balm A shrub of lemon balm in your garden gives you a medicine for a variety of medical ailments, as well as the zesty aroma of mint and lemon.
Therapeutic benefits Lemon balm can be used on the skin and eaten or brewed as a tea for different effects. Crushed lemon balm leaves can be rubbed on the skin to keep mosquitos at bay and to treat insect bites and skin sores. It has also been used to fight fine lines and signs of aging for years, with the Queen of Hungary famously using it in the 1300s. You can make a tea of your lemon balm leaves to help ease colds, fevers, and stomach upsets like indigestion. This diffusion is said to also have a calming effect, so many turn to lemon balm to ease the symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia and headaches.
How to grow lemon balm Plant your lemon balm after the frosty season, ideally in a partially shaded area. Lemon balm likes rich soil, where you should aim for a pH of around 6 to 7. If you pick and harvest your leaves often, adding fertilizer will help your lemon balm to live its best life. Slow release fertilisers or organic nutrients into the soil when planting will give your plant a boost. If your lemon balm plant looks a little sorry for itself, cutting it back will encourage enthusiastic new growth.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
8. Dill This super herb is native to diverse regions around the world, including Russia, Africa and the Mediterranean. Luckily this means you can get it growing almost anywhere to enjoy both its fresh taste and health benefits.
Therapeutic benefits A tangy addition to fish, pickles and salads, dill lets you eat your way to all natural better health. Dill is chemoprotective, which means it can help to neutralise carcinogens. Dill is also super mineral-rich, containing lots of calcium for strong bones and reduced symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Other minerals that abound in dill include magnesium, iron, dietary fiber and manganese. Historically, dill was revered in ancient Greek and Roman cultures for its many healing properties. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, wrote of dill’s anti-bacterial properties in a recipe for cleaning the mouth. Ancient soldiers would also use burnt dill seeds on their wounds to avoid infection.
How to grow dill It’s best to plant your dill annually in a sunny spot. It will easily grow from seeds, but make sure you plant them close together so their wispy structure can support one another. Dill can grow up to a meter tall; it’s best to put it in the back of your veggie patch or herb garden so it doesn’t block your access to other plants.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
9. Finger limes Finger limes are a rainforest delicacy. They come in a range of colours, from deep green to yellow, purple, pink and vivid red. When halved, these native Australian fruits reveal little pearls within. The distinctive lemon-lime flavour of their juice is a real treat, not to mention a wonderful alternative medicine.
Therapeutic benefits Indigenous Australians have revered these fruits for years for their flavour and way they ward off disease. They contain high levels of folate, potassium, and have three times the Vitamin C of a mandarin. They are also rich in Vitamin E, which is known for increasing cell protection and warding off sickness. The acidic juice and pulp and juice of finger limes can also be used as an antiseptic.
How to grow Australian finger limes Finger lime trees grow to around 6 meters high. While they are native to the rainforests of south-east Queensland and northeast New South Wales, they will grow in a wide range of heavy soils as long as the climate is fairly temperate. Keep your finger lime tree feeling at home by mimicking the moist conditions of a rainforest, with fertilised soil every few months and soil conditioners every few weeks.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
10. Turmeric With medicinal and culinary use dating back to 2000 BC, turmeric is a bit of a wonder food.
Therapeutic benefits Turmeric is extremely high in antioxidants, which assist your immune system in the fight against disease. It is also known for its soothing anti-inflammatory properties, which can help both arthritic inflammation and your digestive health. Interestingly, turmeric has also been shown to promote a balanced mood in a double blind medical study.
How to grow turmeric Turmeric can only cope with warm conditions, so if you live somewhere that gets any colder than 18 degrees, unfortunately you won’t be able to grow your own turmeric. Plant a turmeric root cutting with several branches or fingers to it under around 2 inches of potting soil. Keep your soil damp but not sopping, and once you see sprouts it safe to transport your turmeric outdoors. Plant at least 30cm apart if you are going to put them outside. Otherwise you can keep turmeric indoors growing in a pot without any problem.
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Ready to plant your powerful, medicinal plants? We hope you’ve been inspired to check out your nearest nursery, and that you’ve learned something new about the healing properties of your local flora. Read on to find out even more about our native vegetation, and the healing benefits that so many of our backyard plants possess!
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
11. Quandongs These Australian native peaches (santalum acuminatum), traditionally a significant food source for Indigenous Australians, are packed with a whole host of health benefits.
Therapeutic benefits Quandongs contain twice the amount of vitamin C in an orange, as well as loads of vitamin E, folate, magnesium, calcium, iron and zinc. Due to their phenolic-based antioxidants, quandongs are preventative against illnesses like cancer, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The kernel contains a variety of complex oils that can be used to create antibacterial and anti-inflammatory pastes, whilst the leaves can be used for their Rutin-rich properties as an effective anti-aging remedy for the skin.
How to grow quandongs Quandong trees grow in semi-arid regions in Australia and can tolerate high soil salinity levels. In the bush, these part parasitic trees will seek out a host plant or tree from which they rely on for their complete water requirements. If you want to plant a quandong tree at home, remember that the seeds are incredibly hardy. Soak your seed for a few weeks and crack it open with a nutcracker for faster germination. Many people grow their quandong seedlings in tubes so that the deep roots have a chance to grow before you pot or plant.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
12. Desert mushrooms As vivid as the red centre of Australia, pycnoporus fungi, have been used as medicinal mushrooms by Indigenous Australians for thousands of years. The fruiting bodies of these fungi are a bright reddish-orange colour and are widespread on dead wood, making them hard to miss if you come across one!
Therapeutic benefits Aboriginal people suck on the bright orange desert mushroom to treat ulcers and soreness on the mouth and lips. These mushrooms are also given to babies with oral thrush, and used as natural teething rings.
How to grow desert mushrooms These mushrooms are usually foraged on dead trees in the bush, making them difficult to grow on your own.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
13. St. John’s wort These star-shaped flowers (hypericum perforatum) bloom all over the world, and can help with an incredibly diverse range of health problems.
Therapeutic benefits Most commonly, St. John’s wort is used to treat anxiety, been known to treat symptoms of menopause such as heart palpitations and moodiness, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD). St. John’s wort can also be used topically as an essential oil. The oil is a powerful anti-inflammatory and helps ease the aches and pains of sciatica, sprains, burns, and fibrositis.
How to grow St. John’s wort Plant a patch of this perennial plant in early spring, and it should last you years to come. St. John’s wort likes a semishaded area with light sandy soil. Their roots have quite a wide spread, so be sure to give them spacing of about a foot. Harvest the flowers in late summer and keep them somewhere cool so you can dry them for later use. You can keep dried St. John’s wort flowers and use them for up to a year – storing them in a jar or other airtight container will help retain their medicinal properties.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
14. Licorice This sweet root (glycyrrhiza glabra) is up to 50 times sweeter than sugar. In fact, during the sugar rations of WWII, it was the only sweet treat available in Europe. Aside from being a healthier alternative to sugar, licorice root is also known to aid digestion.
Therapeutic benefits The active ingredient in licorice is glycyrrhiza, which can be used to treat upset stomachs, gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn and acid reflux. A cup of licorice tea after a meal has been a traditional aid to digestion for many years. Chilled licorice root tea is also a great refresher during heatstroke.
How to grow St. John’s wort Licorice is quite a low maintenance perennial crop. Best grown in sun (but can also tolerate part shade), liquorice can grow up to 1.5 metres and also has an extensive root system that will require around 1-3 metres of space. The best conditions for licorice to thrive are temperate to subtropical areas. It’s possible to grow it in tropical areas too, as long as the soil drains well. Licorice seed should be sown in spring or summer, however, root propagation is a more successful method of growing your own licorice. Nice, rich soil will encourage the roots to spread, and whilst it can be harvested at any time of the year, it may take 2-3 years for the roots to reach the usable size of 1-5cm.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
15. Warrigal greens This spinach grows along the coasts of Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Japan and Argentina. Also known as tetragonia tetragonioides, New Zealand spinach, Botany Bay spinach or sea spinach, these greens can be found anywhere that the sand and soil meet. It’s said the antioxidants present in this coastal spinach were a saving grace for early settlers, whist the plant was consumed by the first Australians for a long time prior. Make sure you blanch your Warrigal greens for a few minutes before eating, as this will remove potentially harmful oxalates.
Therapeutic benefits This native spinach is so high in antioxidants that Captain James Cook took it on voyages to prevent scurvy. Warrigal greens are also effective at preventing ulcers, contain sedative properties, and have a high fibre content.
How to grow Warrigal greens Start your seeds in trays, and plant between 4 to 6 weeks later. Warrigal greens do better if they are alone in their garden bed, and require spacing of around 45cm to 60cm. In about 10 weeks you should be ready to harvest – but be sure to only pick the tips so your plants will regrow.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
16. Kakadu plums Also known as the Billygoat Plum or terminalia ferdinandiana, this little plum is packed with as much Vitamin C as 50 oranges! Unsurprisingly, it was a major source of food and thirstquenching for Indigenous Australian tribes wherever it could be found.
Therapeutic benefits One of the world’s richest sources of vitamin C, the Kakadu Plum can be used in many different ways. Kakadu plums have been said to both treat and prevent cancer thanks to the ellagic acid it contains, which helps to maintain healthy human tissues. Kakadu plums have also been said to offset the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. Not only do these olive-sized fruits provide a host of health advantages, but they can also be utilised for their beauty benefits. Kakadu plum is used in many beauty products, as it can help maintain levels of collagen and elastic for lustre and shine. Both anti-aging and anti-acne products get great results from adding Kakadu plum.
How to grow Kakadu plum trees Those wanting to grow Kakadu plums need to have a lot of patience! The seeds tend to be dormant, so you will have to sand or file your seed to get it growing. Expect around 6 months to 2 years until your seed even starts germinating. Plant your seed just a centimetre under your soil, in full sun. Keep watering until you see the seedling sprout. Kakadu plum trees thrive best in tropical climates, and can grow up to 10 meters tall. The best time to harvest your Kakadu plum fruits will be in April, May and June.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
17. Mountain pepper Native pepper berry trees, Tasmannia lanceolata, are found in the cold high country in Southern NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Growing to some 5 meters high, both their leaves and fruits have been used by Indigenous Australians in both cooking and as medicine for thousands of years.
Therapeutic benefits Mountain pepper berries are known for their anti-inflammatory properties and high antioxidant content. Pepper-berry has been used by many traditional medical practitioners to treat diseases like arthritis and digestive issues. Because mountain pepper fruits and leaves can help slow absorption of glucose from the stomach, it’s possible that both could act preventatively against diabetes.
How to grow mountain pepper berries Pepper berries are bit fussy, and require a specific climate of good rainfall, cold winters, and mild summers. Only the female mountain pepper plants bear fruit, and it takes several years for them to begin doing so. In order to cultivate the pepper fruits you will need both a male and a female plant. Plant them close to one another in a shaded area, and give them lots of water for them to thrive.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
18. Native raspberry The Rubus parvifolius raspberry is native to Eastern Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam) and Australia, and is like a daintier version of the raspberries you find in a supermarket. It’s well worth scrambling through some brambles for a handful of these tart fruits. You can enjoy then in preserves such as jam, pies, wine, and liqueurs – plus there are a host of health benefits that go with them.
Therapeutic benefits Native raspberries were used by Indigenous Australians to treat diarrhoea. The fruit is also very rich in vitamin C and is therefore known to offer a boost to the immune system. These same berries are used in Chinese medicine as well, and studies have shown good success in reducing tumours with this remedy.
How to grow native raspberries As berries are a long-term crop, it’s worth preparing the soil and removing all weeds before planting. Native raspberries grow in much the same way that the regular varieties thrive, so before planting soak the roots for an hour or two and plant about a metre apart. Due to it’s ability to spread rapidly, native raspberry is best confined by wide paths or other barriers.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
19. Feverfew These gorgeous daisy plants, hypericum perforatum, will not only cheer up your garden bed, but also alleviate your headaches! The antiinflammatory leaves can be eaten fresh or dried for the long-term and consumed as a medicinal tea.
Therapeutic benefits The leaves of feverfew can be chewed to take away the painful throb of a headache. This plant is a great one to have on hand for those prone to migraines. The subtle flavour of the leaves means you can sprinkle them on top of salads and other foods for headache relief or to reduce inflammation in conditions such as arthritis or skin conditions like eczema.
How to grow native raspberries Sow the seeds of your feverfew in full sun to partial shade, but don’t press too hard into the soil as they require light for germination. Space plants 15-30cm apart and make sure the soil has adequate drainage during the initial stages of growth. Once established, your feverfew can handle a few dry spells. Allow 16-20 weeks for them to fully flower.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
20. Marigold Calendula officinalis, from flower petal garnish in your salad to a medicinal power-plant, the humble marigold is a favourite around the world.
Therapeutic benefits Marigold will sooth sunburn and other angry red skin disorders such as acne, impetigo and varicose veins. It also acts an antiinflammatory for digestive problems such as stomach ulcers. Aside from calming and soothing, marigolds are also full of antioxidants and nutrients such as vitamin C that can slow the ageing process and prevent illness.
How to grow marigolds Marigolds will flower well in most parts of Australia except for the tropical areas. Marigolds like to be in like rich, well-drained soil. Sow your marigold seeds in autumn and spring for flowers, and give them lots of water, especially during the summer months. You will also get more fresh flowers if you remove the spent blooms.
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Your own backyard apothecary So many blooms and wonderful trees to plant, so little time! Nature has provided you with your own medicinal dispensary, so take advantage of her natural, healing blooms. We hope you’ve been inspired to plant something therapeutic soon, however big or small, potent or subtle. So go out into your garden and have some fun planting today.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
21. Samphire Samphire also goes by other names such as sea asparagus, sea beans, pickleweed and glasswort. A succulent superfood that that grows in brackish water near the ocean, it grows well in many places around the world, including the southern coast of Australia.
Therapeutic benefits Samphire is yet another wonder plant that kept convicts and pirates alive and scurvy-free on brutal long journeys across the sea. It’s incredibly rich in folic acid and vitamins A, calcium and iron. It’s also said to cleanse the liver, improve mood and aid cognitive function and digestion.
How to grow samphire Because this succulent loves the sea, you’ll have to keep it in an ocean-like environment. Add some sea salt to the water that will keep your samphire moist, but never use table salt because this will kill your plant. Samphire does well in soil that is light and sandy and prefers a sunny, sheltered position out of the dangers of frost. If sowing from seeds, start off in trays before moving to pots. Your samphire is ready to enjoy when the shoots reach around 15cm.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
22. Lemon myrtle Nothing compares to the sweet yet citral aroma of lemon myrtle. The zesty plant also comes with a host of medicinal benefits, from antiseptic skin care to preventative medicine.
Therapeutic benefits Lemon myrtle is an amazing plant to have handy during flu season. It is a powerful antioxidant that can ward off illnesses, and its antiviral properties will stop disease carrying microorganisms in their tracks. Lemon myrtle can be taken as an oil or as a tea, used in cooking to spice up a recipe or applied topically in the form of essential oil. Use lemon myrtle for sore throats, colds, infections, allergies, upset tummies or even topically as an insect repellent.
How to grow lemon myrtle Lemon myrtle trees can tower up to 60 feet high, and are native to temperate Australian coastal regions like Queensland and New South Wales. Lemon myrtle grows in any type of soil, but prefers well fertilised, rich soil. To grow, propagate tip cuttings from a fully grown tree in a large container with well drained and well composted soil. Gently push the cutting into the soil and water regularly. Lemon myrtle requires shade whilst still growing, but can tolerate sun when matured.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
23. Macadamia Tropical, crunchy and creamy – there’s no doubt that macadamias are delicious. The good news is that they are also packed with a host of health benefits.
Therapeutic benefits Macadamia oil is excellent for repairing dry and damaged skin. It can also be used as a natural way to protect yourself from the sun, as opposed to many sunscreens that contain harsh chemicals such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone. The nuts themselves are full of Omega-3 and good fatty acids that reduce absorption of bad cholesterols. Minerals such as magnesium will also help the stability and strength of the body’s tissues and bones.
How to grow macadamia trees Native to the subtropical east coast of Australia, macadamias prefer warm weather. You’ll get the most nuts in a temperate climate, but can still grow the trees in climates as cool as Tasmania. Macadamias can be grown from seed but they’re usually propagated by cuttings, and grafting produces the best results. They grow up to 20 metres high but it’s possible to buy dwarf varieties for smaller spaces.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
24. Eucalypts Eucalypts, commonly known as gum trees, form an intrinsic part of the Australian identity with the bush. A dominant part of the Australian flora, Eucalypts come in a variety of shapes and sizes – from small shrubs to large trees.
Therapeutic benefits Eucalyptus are a powerful yet gentle antiseptic that can be grown right in your own backyard. The leaves have been used to treat colds, sore throats, allergies and blocked sinuses for many years. An Indigenous Australian remedy for an upset stomach is also a boiled infusion of eucalyptus bark. Eucalyptus products also make excellent antiseptics and cleaning products that are a great alternative to standard chemical-laden cleaners.
How to grow eucalyptus While you may think of towering gumtrees when you think of eucalyptus trees, you can also grow them in pots and containers if you are constrained by space. If you are going to plant your eucalypt in a pot, make sure you go for a large, cone-shaped Air-Pot so the roots don’t spiral. Do your research on what kind of gumtree sapling will work best for the soil and environment you have. All eucalyptus trees require full sun, but the E. neglecta and E. crenulata species will do fine in half sun. Eucalypts are best suited to warm-temperate or semi-arid regions, and once established they are drought tolerant. Propagate from seed and plant in light, well-drained soil in sunlight. Eucalyptus plants are fast growing, hardy and long lived.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
25. Chamomile Chamomile, or rhodanthe anthemoides, is widespread in eastern Australia. It grows primarily in rocky areas, preferring sandy soils, and during winter pink buds may form and stay dormant until opening in early spring. Chamomile plants have wonderful medicinal effects and are easy to raise as long as you have a little bit of sunshine on your side.
Therapeutic benefits Calming cups of chamomile tea, a soothing salve for burns and cuts – there’s so much these daisies can do. Research has also shown that sipping chamomile tea while sick can reduce the symptoms of colds, and it’s thought that chamomile tea can even prevent muscle spasming and menstrual cramps.
How to grow chamomile Chamomile plants love light soil and sunshine, but these delicate daisies may need a little shade if you live in an area with intense heat. They do well in pots, making them perfect for balcony gardens or apartment plant life. Harvest your chamomile flowers in summer to make homegrown chamomile tea, or dry them for use all year round.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
26. Persimmon These plants take patience but will be with you for some time – some specimens in China are documented as being over 300 years old. While they are delicious, they have to be picked at just the right time. The acorn-shaped hachiya needs to be super soft to be sweet enough to eat.
Therapeutic benefits Persimmons can improve your health from the inside out. Persimmons are said to prevent various types of cancer by boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation and improving blood circulation. They’re even known to boost eye health and help weight loss by kick starting the metabolism.
How to grow persimmons These fruit trees prefer temperate climates with mild summers and winters that don’t get too bitterly cold. Plant your persimmon in winter and try to choose an area with full sun, wind protection and good drainage. Water well while it’s growing and add some manure a few months after planting. You’ll need to prune your persimmon, but be careful as the fruits only bear on wood that’s a year old. While it takes patience to wait for your persimmon to bear fruit, it’s worth the wait for these fruits. When ripe, you should gently cut them off the tree, as they are as delicate as they are delicious.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
27. Nettle (Urtica dioica) This plant is covered in tiny stinging tubes and is officially considered a weed. Yet it can be used for all manner of things, from tea to medicine to food.
Therapeutic benefits Nettle can be eaten or brewed up as a tea to provide all sorts of health benefits. These include kidney support, pain relief for arthritis, reduction in hypertension, treatment for digestive issues like IBS, and it can even be used as an antibacterial mouthwash. The leaves also boost the immune system by stimulating the lymphatic system into action. Indigenous Australians utilised the stings of nettle to stimulate paralysed areas by beating the affected areas with the plant.
How to grow nettle Nettle will spring up mighty fast, so it may be worth finding an area with an infestation so you can forage for yourself. Wearing gloves is recommended when harvesting nettle to protect yourself from the tiny stings. Good nettle harvests can be obtained after times of heavy rain if you live in a temperate climate.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
28. Midyim or Midgen Berry Midyim Berry is a cute little shrub that bears white flowers and soft sweet fruits. Native to the coastal regions of northern New South Wales and south east Queensland, these berries have supple skin and tiny edible seeds. A hardy native berry, these fruits are wonderful in pies and preserves.
Therapeutic benefits Because these berries are native and hardy, you can grow them without the aid of pesticides and harmful chemicals. It is always better for your digestive system to take in fruits that are grown locally, as you avoid introducing toxins and pesticides into your body.
How to grow midget berry plants Plant in late winter or early spring to enjoy your flowers in early summer. Midyim can flourish in both pot plants and the ground, and can be fashioned into a sweet-smelling hedge. Make sure you keep it well fed with water and mulch to get a good berry harvest. Once you pick your berries, be sure to give it a trim to reap the rewards next fruit season.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
29. Aniseed Myrtle (Backhousia anisata) The aniseed scented leaves from this tree are used to flavour both desserts, preserves, marinades and salad dressings. Aniseed myrtle can also be used medicinally, and they make for a beautiful ornamental tree in any backyard.
Therapeutic benefits Aniseed myrtle is traditionally used for weight loss, lactation and stomach complaints. You can make a tea from either fresh or dried leaves – it has quite a refreshing flavour.
How to grow aniseed myrtle The aniseed myrtle tree is native to only a few areas in north eastern New South Wales. You can tell it is a rainforest tree thanks to the lush density of its foliage. Those lucky enough to have an aniseed myrtle tree will enjoy the tiny white flowers that appear come spring time. Aniseed myrtle can grow up to 45 metres when let loose, but is usually kept to around 10 metres in your average garden. It’s also possible to keep a potted aniseed myrtle, or to prune it into a hedge.
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Therapeutic Uses of Common Backyard Trees and Plants
30. Native ginger Native ginger, or alpinia caerulea, is an edible perennial herb that grows in subtropical, warm temperate climates. This tough, woody climber vine rewards you with clusters of yellow flowers and deep blue berries with medicinal properties.
Therapeutic benefits The leaf shoots and berries have a mild ginger flavour and can be eaten fresh from the plant or used in cooking. Indigenous Australians would crush the berries and mix with water to form a gargle to soothe sore throats.
How to grow Australian native ginger plants Native ginger plants are found naturally in forested areas of eastern Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. They are sensitive to frost and prefer at least partially shaded areas to thrive. They also like rich soil and regular watering. Be careful if you plant native ginger in your garden – this common climber is prone to taking over large areas. But keep it in check and you’ll enjoy sweet berries and lovely pronged leaves for a long time to come.
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Reap nature’s benefits Now we’ve come to the end of our series on the therapeutic flora that flourishes best in Australia. While we’ve included the plants and trees with the best benefits, we encourage you to get out there and research even more about the various therapeutic flora this land has to offer, as well as trying to grow some yourself! We hope that this 3 part series has inspired you to explore your local flora, and reap the medicinal and therapeutic benefits that nature has offered us.
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