Botanical Name: Canna edulis
Some other names: Achira, Canna Achira, edible canna
How to Grow It
Queensland arrowroot (Canna edulis) is a hardy perennial in the canna lily family, reaching up to 2 m tall with big, tropical-looking leaves and thick underground rhizomes. If you’ve ever seen ornamental cannas, this is their edible cousin — but instead of just looking pretty, it feeds you too.
Climate: It thrives in tropical and subtropical regions, but grows happily in temperate zones too. In cooler climates, it may die back in winter and reshoot in spring. In very cold regions with heavy frost or snow, treat it like an annual by replanting rhizomes each spring.
Sun & soil: Prefers full sun, but will cope with light shade. It’s not fussy about soil — anything from rich loam to clay — though you’ll get the best growth in deep, fertile soil.
Water & drought: Will handle drought like a champion once established but also thrives in boggy areas, making it one of those rare “plant anywhere” crops. More water equals bigger, juicier tubers, but I’ve never watered mine and they still flourish.
Planting & propagation: Easiest thing in the world. Just dig up a tuber and replant it in its new home. Make sure each piece has at least one “eye” (growing point). A single clump can give you dozens of new plants every year.
Maintenance: Basically zero. You can mulch and feed if you want extra lush growth, but it will survive neglect better than almost any other edible plant I know.
Herbal & Nutrient Value
Queensland arrowroot isn’t a “superfood” like Kang Kong or Drumstick tree, but it’s hugely valuable for calories and bulk in a survival garden.
- The tubers are rich in easily digestible starch, making them ideal for people with sensitive stomachs or recovering from illness.
- Contains potassium, calcium, and phosphorus for strong bones and healthy muscles.
- Has a small but useful amount of protein — not a lot, but enough to count when paired with other foods.
Traditionally, arrowroot flour (made by washing and drying the tuber starch) has been used for soothing upset stomachsand thickening soups for invalids. In a survival situation, that kind of gentle, filling food can be invaluable.
Traditional & Home Remedies
Arrowroot gruel: Rhizome starch mixed with water and simmered to create a bland, soothing porridge for upset stomachs.
Poultice: Grated rhizome applied externally to soothe minor burns or rashes (folk remedy).
Detox tonic: Mild decoction used in traditional South American medicine to “cool” the body.
Using It in the Kitchen
Arrowroot is one of the most versatile starchy plants you can grow — and you can eat almost every part of it.
- Young tips and unfurled leaves can be steamed, stir-fried, or tossed into soups for a mild, spinach-like green.
- The tubers are the real prize: slightly sweet, crunchy when raw, and smooth and filling when cooked.
Flavour & texture: Mild, a little like water chestnut raw and a cross between potato and yam when cooked.
Storage tip: Harvest as needed. Tubers will keep for weeks if left in the ground but dry out quickly once dug up unless stored in a cool, dark place.
Simple recipe ideas:
– Arrowroot Chips – Slice tubers into wedges, toss in oil and salt, and roast until golden and crisp.
– Soup Thickener – Grate a tuber straight into a simmering soup or stew — it melts in and thickens beautifully.
– Stir-Fried Shoots – Snip young shoots and fry with garlic and soy for a quick green side dish.
– Mashed Arrowroot – Cook peeled tubers longer than you would potatoes, then mash with butter and herbs.
– Tropical Hash – Cube tubers and fry them up with onion, chilli, and a handful of herbs for a hearty breakfast or side dish.
Other Uses
- Mulch machine: You can cut the lush leaves back to the ground several times a year — perfect for making thick mulch or feeding your compost heap.
- Animal fodder: The protein-rich leaves are great for chooks, ducks, pigs, and goats.
- Garden helper: Arrowroot plants make brilliant windbreaks and living borders for veggie beds, while improving soil health with their constant organic matter.
Why it’s a survival plant:
Bulletproof hardiness – grows in bogs, drought, poor soil, sun, or shade.
Year-round food – tubers, leaves, and shoots can all be harvested whenever you need them.
Multi-purpose crop – food, mulch, fodder, and shelter all from one plant.
In short: if you only plant a handful of survival crops, make sure Queensland arrowroot is one of them.
