An edible canna in similar in apperance to its close relative the ornamental Cannas. Another of the Ancient Inca food crops, it was one of the first plants to have been domesticated in the Andean region. A popular crop in the market place in Peru and Ecuador.
The large round red rhizomes can be eaten raw, cooked as you would a potato or used as a flour and thickening agent. Excellent carbohydrate, the starch is easily digested and is a promising food source. The young shoots can also be eaten as a green vegetable.
The plant is easy to plant, to grow and to harvest. While the tubers multiply prolifically in deep rich friable soil, they are the most hardy of all the tuber crops and grows well in soils where most other tubers will not grow. Has few problems with pests and diseases. Can be harvested after 6 months. Will tolerate heat and light frosts.
| Height | Frost tol. | Pollination req'd | Evergreen/Deciduous | Harvest period |
| 1-2 | High | No | Rootcrop | All year round |
We welcome your Tips on Arrowroot. Share Your Tip.
Global Warming : Will survive the +40 degree summer days . | Rolf - Bankstown 2200, NSW 05-Jan-2006
Edible fence screener/hedge and mulch for suburban gardens. | Rolf - Bankstown Sydney, NSW 17-Jan-2006
Recipe : Serve cooked arrowroot then pour over some Extra Virgin Olive Oil and then sprinkle grey sea salt. | Rolf - Bankstown Sydney, NSW 17-Jan-2006
They are mostly grown in the caribbean but the best are in S.V.G | Maka John - St.vincent And The Grenadines, S.V.G 08-Oct-2007
Chickens eat the green leaves. | Gail - Wyoming, NSW 08-Jan-2009
Slice across thinly and deep fry - you'll get arrowroot chips, much like potato chips. | Xiu Li - Beijing , CHINA 18-Aug-2009
Updated: 15th of April, 2009 at 4:09pm © Disclaimer/Privacy/Copyright