Permaculture Plants

158 Pages·2011·29.81 MB·English

Published by
Permanent Publications
Hyden House Limited
The Sustainability Centre
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First published 1996
Second edition 2004
© 1996 Jeff Nugent & Julia Boniface
The right of Jeff Nugent & Julia Boniface to be identified
as authors of this work has been asserted by him in accordance
with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Front cover photograph by
Tim I-Iarland
Back cover photograph
Sprouted bunya nuts by Jeff Nugent
Unless stated otherwise, all photographs by Jeff Nugent.
Printed by
Antony Rowe Ltd., Eastbourne, East Sussex, UK
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from
the British Library
ISBN 1 85623 029 5
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,
rebound or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of Hyden House Limited.
Preface
"It's not ready yet", has been the cry for several years as our students pushed us to
publish this book. It's still not. complete of course, because the subject is too vast and
there is still so much that we don't, know. There are many species still to be included, but
sooner or later we had to say "enough", wit h the knowledge that the next edition will
grow. It. is with humility that we present, this book. The driving force to present it is
knowing that it will help others to become more effective in their work.
Although we have made every effort to make the information in this book as accurate as
possible, we acknowledge that there may be some information that is incorrect. We take
no responsibility for how people vise this information or for any wrong information in
this book. We hope to get feed-back from peopl e so that subsequent editions will become
more useable. As will become apparent, some sections of the book are still in note form.
We have tended to avoid the more common fruits such as apples, apricots, plums, etc.
feeling that, there is readily available information on these species. We have generally
avoided cultivars of species, although in some cases we have decided to include these.
A seemingly disproportionate space is dedicated to palms, compared to say the useful
bamboos. This has largely been a quirk of fate.
Sustainable Agriculture Research institute (SARI)
SARI is based in Nannup, Western Australia. Extension services available through SARI
include: property selection and design; nursery stock supply; and planting of systems.
SARI runs courses on Perinaculture, including the Permaculture Desig n Certificate
Course. This is SARl's first major publication.
Both of the authors work as researchers, designers and educators with SARI.
Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute
PO Box 10
Nannup
WA 6275
Australia
Tel: [phone]
Web: www.permacultureplants.net
The Authors
Jeff Nugent was born in Perth, Western Australia and moved to Nannup in 1975. He is
a founding member of SARI. He holds a Diploma in Permaculture and he wishes he had
this book 20 years ago.
Julia Boniface moved to Nannup, Western Australia after completing a Degree in
Agriculture at London University in 1989. She holds a Certificate in Permaculture
Design, and now works as a Permaculture designer and lecturer with SARI.
Permaculture Plants: A Selection
Dedication
This book is dedicated to future generations who face the enormous task of repairing a
squandered environment with diminished resources.
Thanks
Special thanks go out to all of the people who have made this book possible: Ke n
Layfield for his work in the early stages; Wendy Wilkins for her contributions to the
water plants section; Claire Everett for her wonderful photographs; Jill Nugent, Graham
Edwards, Phaedra Watts and Rod Laws for their assistance in proof reading; Chris and
Kim Roycroft for use of computer hardware. Extra special thanks to Arun for all of his
help in layout and production - without his help this book would have been little more
than a typed manuscript. Our gratitude to Adrian for his graphics. Also many thanks to
those who pre-purchased the book and told us that it was a worthwhile thing to do. A
very special thanks to Chris and Kerry Harper for helping with the finances. Finall y the
ultimate thanks to Bill Mollison who has done so much toward making this planet a
better place to live.
Permaculture Plants: A Selection
Contents
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................9
OVERVIEW OF PERMACULTURE.......................................................................11
PROPAGATING PLANTS.............................................................................................13
THE PIONEERS...............................................................................................15
TAGASASTE (Chamaecytisus palmensis) 15
TREE LUPIN (Lupinus arboreus) 17
WATTLES (Acacia spp) 17
ALBIZIAS (Albizia spp) 22
CASUARINAS (Casuarina spp) 22
ROSEWOOD (Tipuana tipu) 24
LEUCAENA (Leucaena spp) 24
ALDERS (Alnus spp) 26
MIRACLE PLANT (Lespedeza bicolor) 27
BLACK LOCUST (Robinia pseudoacacia) 28
HONEY LOCUST (Gleditsia triacanthos) 28
ICE CREAM BEAN (Inga spp)......................................................................................................28
THE NUTS...................................................................................................31
MACADAMIA (Macadamia spp).................................................................................................31
WALNUTS (Juglans spp)..........................................................................................................32
CHESTNUTS (Castanea spp)...................................................................................................33
CHINQUAPINS (Chrysolepis spp)............................................................................................34
ALMONDS (Prunus amygdalus).................................................................................................34
HAZELNUT (Corylus spp)........................................................................................................37
PECAN (Carya illinoensis).........................................................................................................38
PISTACHIO NUTS (Pistacia spp)...............................................................................................40
BUNYA BUNYA (Araucaria bidwillii)....................................................................................................................41
PINES WITH EDIBLE NUTS (Pinus spp).................................................................................42
JOJOBA (Simmondsia chinensis, syn. Simmondsia californica).................................................45
COLOUR PLATES............................................................................................47
THE FRUITS...................................................................................................57
FIGS (Ficus spp)......................................................................................................................57
MULBERRIES (Morus spp)....................................................................................................................59
PERSIMMON (Diospyros kaki)..................................................................................................59
OLIVE (Olea europaea).........................................................................................................................60
JUJUBE (Ziziphus spp)......................................................................................................................61
LOQUAT (Eriobotrya japonica)..................................................................................................62
ACEROLA, BARBADOS CHERRY (Malpighia glabra)................................................................63
PAPAYA (Carica papaya)...........................................................................................................63
HIGHLAND PAPAYAS (Carica spp)....................................................................................................................64
PEPINO (Solanum muricatum).................................................................................................................64
TAMARILLO (Cyphomandra betacea).....................................................................................................65
CAPULI (Prunus salicifolia)...................................................................................................................65
WHITE SAPOTE (Casimiroa edulis)....................................................................................................66
LUCUMA (Pouteria obovata, syn. Pouteria lucmo, Lucumo obovata)........................................66
SAPODILLA (Manilkara zapota, syn. Achras sapota)...............................................................67
PASSIONFRUIT (Passiflora spp)..............................................................................................67
CHERIMOYAS (Annona spp)...................................................................................................70
Permaculture Plants: A Selection
Contents
PAWPAW (Asimina triloba)..............................................................................................................................71
GUAVAS (Psidium spp)............................................................................................................72
FEIJOA (Feijoa sellowiana).................................................................................................................73
UGNI (Ugni molinaea, syn. Myrtus ugni, Ugni molinae)................................................................73
LlLLIPILLIs (Eugeniaspp. Acmenaspp. Syzigiumspp).............................................................73
BLUEBERRIES (Vaccinium spp)...............................................................................................76
FUCHSIA (Fuchsia spp) ...........................................................................................................76
HACKBERRY (Celtis Australis)..............................................................................................................77
IRISH STRAWBERRY TREE (Arbutus unedo) .................................................................................77
JAPANESE RAISIN TREE (Hovenia dulcis)................................................................................77
OTHER UTILITY PLANTS........................................................................................79
CAROB Ceratonia Siliqua).....................................................................................................................79
OAKS Quercus spp).............................................................................................................................80
BEECHES (Fagus spp).............................................................................................................82
WILLOWS (Salix spp)......................................................................................................................83
POPLARS (Populus spp)........................................................................................................................84
CASTOR (Ricinus communis).....................................................................................................................87
CAPE LILAC (Meliaazedarach)............................................................................................................87
NEEM (Azadirachta indica).................................................................................................................88
INDIAN BEECH (Derris indica).................................................................................................89
COTONEASTER (Cotoneaster spp)........................................................................................................89
DOGWOOD (Cornuscapitata)..................................................................................................90
COPROSMA (Coprosma repens).............................................................................................90
HORSERADISH TREE, DRUMSTICK (Moringa oleifera)................................................................90
CHINESE TALLOW TREE (Sapium sebiferum)...................................................................................90
MOUNTAIN ASH, ROWAN (Sorbus aucuparia, syn. Sorbus edulis)..........................................91
BOX ELDER MAPLE (Acer negundo, syn. Negundo aceroides).........................................................91
CEDARS (Cedrus spp)......................................................................................................................91
EUCALYPTS (Eucalyptus spp)................................................................................................92
BAMBOOS............................................................................................................................96
FAST GROWING, TALL, PERENNIAL GRASSES, SUITABLE AS LOCKUP FODDER............98
PALMS WITH UTILITY TO MAN..............................................................................................98
UTILITY LISTS.......................................................................................................111
TREES AND SHRUBS WITH LOW FIRE POTENTIAL..................................................................111
GROUND COVER WITH LOW FIRE POTENTIAL....................................................................114
MEDICINAL HERBS FOR LIVESTOCK...................................................................................114
BEE FORAGE SYSTEM........................................................................................................114
COMPANION PLANTS..................................................................................................................................118
WATER PLANTS..........................................................................................................121
UTILITY SUBMERGED PLANTS..............................................................................................121
UTILITY FLOATING - LEAVED PLANTS.................................................................................121
UTILITY EMERGENT PLANTS..............................................................................................122
UTILITY PLANTS OF MARGINS AND WATER MEADOWS...................................................125
DIFFICULT SITES.......................................................................................................................127
SALT TOLERANT FODDER SPECIES...................................................................................127
SALT TOLERANT TREES..............................................................................................................................129
PLANTS WHICH SURVIVE RIGHT TO THE OCEAN.............................................................130
PLANTS TOLERANT OF ALKALINE SOILS..........................................................................134
INDEX...........................................................................................................................................139
Permaculture Plants: A Selection
How to Use this Book
The book has been categorised primarily according to the principal function of the species
concerned. The PIONEERS section includes those plants whose main role is to act as nurse
plants to other species, although they also have useful products and properties of their own.
The NUTS and FRUITS sections deal with species whose main product is edible, although they
will usually possess other useful qualities (for example walnut also produces timber and has
medicinal properties). ,
In OTHER UTILITY PLANTS, we have included all those species which do not fall easily
into any of the first three sections, for example timber or animal fodder species.
UTILITY LISTS comprises lists of species which serve a particular function, such as fire
retardant or bee forage species.
The last two sections, WATER PLANTS and DIFFICULT SITES, are categorised according
to the particular sites the plants are adapted to.
Any method of categorising has its weaknesses and this is no exception.
This book is indexed extensively so as to facilitate cross-referencing. It is sometimes necessary to
search every occurrence of a species in the book to glean all of the information about that
species. This is especially true if a species makes one or more appearances in the Difficult Sites
section of the book. A good way of checking a plant function or product is to search it in the
index, it should then navigate you to this information.
"Diameter" refers to trunk diameter unless otherwise stated. "Width" or "spread" refers to
diameter of canopy.
Geographical references which are unspecified refer to Australia.
Permaculture Plants: A Selection
Permaculture Plants: A Selection
INTRODUCTION
It is not the purpose of this book to cover the vast topic of Permaculture. Rather it i s a resource
list that we hope will help Permaculture practitioners with their efforts. Included in thu s book is
a quick overview of Permaculture so that the novice can see the big picture.
In the late 70's and early 80's the species lists in "Permaculture 1" by Bill Mollison and David
Holmgren (Tagari Publications), was all that we had as easily accessible tools in our design
work. The rest was a matter of wading through volumes of material and wishing it was already
compiled. Little has changed in the late 90's except there are more texts available to wade
through. It is hoped that this book will help to reduce the wading, allowing more time for
planning and planting.
At no time in the history of the planet has there bee n such a great opportunity to shift species
around the planet. International flight means that even those seeds which lose viability very
quickly can be transported. There is of course a need for some care in selecting which species
do get introduced. It is important to monitor their progress before widespread introduction to
an area, but ultimately most species are complete unknowns in a different environment unti l
they are trialed there. Certain species are prohibited imports into some countries becaus e of
their status as rampant weeds.
There is a major global move toward prohibiting the importation of species. This movement
seems to be prompted by multi-national companies who perceive that Permaculture could
interfere with their command over the planet. That command i s now all but complete as every
country on the planet faces bankruptcy and is selling off the last of their assets to balance the
books.
This movement to suppress species shift is supported by a sector of the environmental move-
ment. The catch cry is "invasive species", yet most invasive species (perhaps with the exception
of Homo sapiens) are only growing in badly damaged ecosystems and are usually doing a
valuable job holding the soil together.
This is very true of the tagasaste in Western Australia. In some parts of the foothills surround-
ing Perth it is stepping into bushland. This bush has been so badly abused over the last 160
years of European setdement that it has lost its integrity as a complete ecosystem. Tagasaste is
a saviour to that system, shading exposed soil and adding nitrogen to the system, but is misinter-
preted by some as an invader. Ecosystems are not fixed, but dynamic. It is fortunate that we
have the diversity of species from around the worl d to get us through these times of rapid
change and decline of ecosystems.
As far as we know every species is native to the planet Earth. Every species tries to extend its
boundaries as far as it possibly can. The Australian Aboriginal has been in Australia for, at the
most, 100 thousand years. Is the Australian Aboriginal native to Australia? The whole
question of what is native needs consideration. This book only uses the expressio n "native" as a
guide so that the reader can grasp the origin of a plant and hopefully make some informed
decision on the kind of climate that it may be suited to.
We are losing species on this planet faster than the y are being catalogued, as the industrial
world exploits the last corners of the planet and the last wilderness is lost. We are also losing
the information that indigenous peoples had on how these species could be utilised. Perhaps
the only chance of saving many of the species is to grow them in our own systems. Indeed
many of our domesticated fruits are now unknown in the wild.
This book is really about conservation - conservation of soil, fossil fuel, human energy, specie s
and genotypes of species. Ultimately it is about conservation of the human species which i s
obviously doomed unless we change our priorities and shift our direction towards well designed
sustainable systems.
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Permaculture Plants: A Selection
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