Bush tomato (kutjera)

Solanum centrale

A desert staple: the fruit dries on the bush to a raisin that tastes of caramel and tamarillo.

Type: herb or perennial · perennial vegetables, greens and herbs
Hardiness: zones 9 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 1.5 ft tall, 2 ft wide
Harvest: September to November
From: Central Australian deserts
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Too tender to overwinter outdoors on the Lake Erie shore (zone 6b to 7a): grow it in a pot and bring it in, or treat it as an annual.

Good for: food.

Native to: Australia. Hardy in zones 9 to 11.

The story

The bush tomato has been a staple of the Central Desert for thousands of years, known as kutjera or akatjurra among many names. Women gather the dried fruit, grind it with water and shape it into balls that keep for years.

Planting

Full sun and sandy, sharply drained soil. It is short-lived; a pot works well.

Growing

Water sparingly. It spreads by suckers and fruits best after rain following a dry spell.

Harvest and use

Leave the fruit on the bush until it yellows and dries to a brown raisin, then pick. Grind it into sauces, stews, bread and chutney.

What to watch for

Only this species, and only fully ripe and dried: green fruit and many look-alike bush Solanums are toxic. Fine prickles.

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More perennial vegetables, greens and herbs

General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home