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ENCHYLAENA tomentosa
Bush food
Ruby Salt Bush
Family: Amaranthaceae
Sub-family: Camphorosmoideae
Characteristics: Shrub 1 m spread 1 m
Seed per packet: Approx. 25
Seed pre gram: Approx. 50
Produces soft sweet ruby red berries 6-8 mm in diameter, the fruits are pleasant to eat and make a sweet, juicy snack food when eaten raw or soaked in water to make a sweet drink. They can also be dried and reconstituted later.
A red dye can also be made from berries.
Ruby saltbush is a common species of semi-arid and arid climates. It is a small, shrub about 1 metre high with greyish foliage. It is not widely cultivated but would be a useful plant for gardens in dry climates.
Endemic throughout Australia.
Prefers light to heavy soil in an open position, drought and frost-resistant, and salt tolerant.
Please Note: Although many of the traditional Bush Food and Medicine plants are now commercially produced in various forms we recommend you re-search these before using them as any form of food or medicine. Some parts of the plant may not be edible or some may need to be prepared before they are safe to eat or use in any way. We do our best to describe their traditional & modern uses. It is the purchaser's responsibility to ensure they are fit for their intended use.
Grow notes:
Seed is usually best sown in spring or autumn in temperate climates, avoiding the coldest and hottest months of the year. The optimum germination temperature for germination of this genus is around 18-22°C for this species.
Pre-treatment of smoke is recommended for this species.
Research has shown that many members of this genus are responsive to the pre-treatment of smoke. Although germination may occur without smoke treatment it has proved to be beneficial in reducing the number of days to germination and increasing germination rates of this species.
Smoke treatments are simple and can be undertaken either by soaking the seed overnight or by applying to the surface after sowing, both provide good results. Smoke treatments are available by clicking here.
- Sow seed 4-5mm deep
- Water with a fine mist spray to avoid disturbance of the seed.
- Place in a warm shaded or semi-shaded position to avoid dying out.
- Keep warm & moist, and avoid drying out or waterlogging the growing mix.
- Germination generally occurs in around 21-28 days in the right conditions.
General note: Seeds of many natives are dormant and require specific conditions or pre-treatment for germination.
Do not be too hasty to discard seed that does not germinate, seeds will often lay dormant until the conditions are similar to their natural requirements for germination to occur. Containers put to one side will often surprise long after they were discarded.
We now stock a range of Propagation Accessories including the popular Aquamiser Propagation Kits, Pots, Native and Forestry Tubes, Trays, Labels and more.
We can only ship these items to Australian locations, international customers please request shipping quotation prior to purchasing.
Importing to Tasmania Prohibited