Common Name: Small Vanilla Lily

General Information

Arthropodium minus is a herbaceous, perennial plant growing from a tuberous rootstock. The plant produces a cluster of spear-shaped, basal leaves up to 35cm long and one or more flowering stems up to 54cm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is often grown in gardens, valued especially for itd floral display.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Australia - New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia.

Habitat

Found in a variety of habitats from the coast to alpine areas. Eucalyptus forests, woodlands and sub-alpine meadows, favouring drier habitats than A. milleflorum[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Arthropodium minus is not very cold tolerant, but it succeeds in areas where temperatures seldom fall much below freezing so long as it is given a sunny sheltered position and a well-drained soil[]. Plants are hardy to at least -7°c in Australian gardens[].
Prefers a well-drained sandy peaty loam in a warm, sheltered sunny position[].
The plant has a strong scent of vanilla, this is especially noticeable on warm days[].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked. Rather watery with a slightly sweet or bitter flavour[]. Plants produce about 4 - 5 tubers, each of which are up to 3cm long[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter in a cold greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in spring.