A continuance from Gardening with machetes, I wanted to make a list of plants to start my Food Forest Design based around creating small islands beginning with a central tree surrounded by a nitrogen fixer, a perennial, herbs, flowers, berry’s, pest management , medicinal and vegetables to have all year round fruit and vegetables , with low maintenance features. This is an almost complete list that would still have to be shaved down to suit individual tastes , soil types and climates. I’m hoping to find someone that wants to rent out a piece of their property for me to build this to live on, preferably in a tipi.

Nitrogen Fixers including Australian Natives
The most common nitrogen fixing plants are the plants and trees from the family Fabaceae (bean and pea), which includes legumes such as alfalfa, beans, clovers, lupines, peanuts, peas, and leguminous trees, such as tagasaste (tree lucerne) and acacias.
Plants from the Fabaceae (legume, bean & pea) family host symbiotic nitrogen fixing Rhizobium bacteria in their root nodules. There are some members of the Fabaceae family which do no fix nitrogen, such as carob and honey locust trees.
Conversely, some non-leguminous species have the ability to fix nitrogen, such as alder, bayberry, casuarina, elaeagnus as well as the tiny floating aquatic fern azolla (fairy moss).
Edibles legume crops such as peas (garden, snow and sugarsnap), alfalfa (lucerne), broad beans (fava beans), common beans (bush beans, climbing beans), mung beans, soybeans, perennial beans (7-year beans, scarlet runners, climbing lima beans), peanuts, chickpeas, lentils.
Nitrogen fixing legume crops such as alfalfa/lucerne (Medicago sativa), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), clover (Trifolium species, such as crimson, red, white, rose, subterranean), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), gorse (Ulex europaeus), hairy vetch (aka woolly pod vetch, Vicia villosa), lablab (Lablab purpureus), lespedezas (aka Japanese clovers), liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), lupin (Lupinus species), medics, perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan), pinto peanut (Arachis pintoi), scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius), wynn’s cassia (Cassia rotundifolia).
Summer Legumes: cowpea, lablab, mung bean, soybean, lucerne
Summer Grasses: buckwheat, French white millet, Japanese millet
Winter Legumes: fava bean (broad bean), fenugreek, lupins, sub clover, red clover, white clover, woolly pod vetch, chick pea
Winter Grasses: barley, oats, rye, wheat, buckwheat
Winter/Summer other: Biofume mustards, beets, corn salad, endive, kale, mustard, purslane, rocket, radish, spinach, turnip
Australian Native Nitrogen Fixing Legumes
The Fabaceae (legume) family can be divided into three subfamilies:
Sub-family Faboideae – typical pea-flowered plants
Sub-family Mimosoideae – Acacias & related plants
Sub-family Caesalpinioideae – Senna, Cassia & related plants
Sub-family Faboideae – pea-flowered plants, which includes Aotus, Bossiaea, Castanospermum, Chorizema, Crotalaria, Daviesia, Dillwynia, Gastrolobium, Glycine, Gompholobium, Goodia, Hardenbergia, Hovea, Indigofera, Jacksonia, Kennedia, Oxylobium, Phyllota, Platylobium, Podolobium, Pultenaea, Swainsona, Templetonia
Sub-family Mimosoideae – Acacias & related plants, which includes the Wattle species, ranging in size from small shrubs to large trees
Sub-family Caesalpinioideae – Senna, Cassia & related plants, ranging in size from small shrubs to large trees
Non-Leguminous Nitrogen Fixing Plants
Some nitrogen fixing plants are not from the Fabaceae (legume) family.
Lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia) from the Boraginaceae (borage and forget-me-not family), is an excellent bee-forage.
Elaeagnus (silverberries), Hippophae (sea-buckthorns) and Shepherdia (buffaloberries) from the Elaeagnaceae (oleaster) family. The ebbing’s silverberry (Elaeagnus x ebbingei) is a popular fruiting permaculture hedging plant that can grow anywhere, sun or shade.
Ceanothus, Colletia, Discaria, Kentrothamnus, Retanilla, Talguenea, Trevoa from the Rhamnaceae (buckthorn) family.
Cercocarpus (mountain mahoganies), Chamaebatia (mountain miseries), Dryas, Purshia/Cowania (bitterbrushes/cliffroses) from the Rosaceae (rose) family.
Myrica (babyberries) from the Myricaceae family, includes edible Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra).
Allocasuarina and Casuarina (she-oaks), Australian trees from the Casuarinaceae family.
Azolla (fairy moss) a genus of seven species of tiny floating aquatic ferns from the Salviniaceae family.
Alder trees from the genus Alnus in the Betulaceae (birch) family have a symbiotic relationship with the actinomycete Frankia alni, a filamentous, nitrogen-fixing microorganism, which resides in root nodules of the tree.
Weeds
Three Major groups of weeds. The first comprises of those that live in acid soil and therefore indicating increased acidity. To this group belong the Sorrels, Docks, Finger-leaf weeds, Lady’s Thumb, and Horsetail.
The second major group indicates crust formation or hard pan in th soil. Belonging here are the Field Mustard, The horse Nettle, Penny Cress. Morning Glory, Quack Grass, The Camomiles and the Pine Apple Weed.
The third major group consists of those weeds which follow human cultivation, spreading out with compost and manure, wherever man walks. Here belong the Lambs Quarters, Plaintain, Chickweed, Buttercup, Dandelion, Nettle, Prostate knot Weed, Prickly Lettuce, Field Speedwell, Rough Pigweed, Common Horehound, Celandine, Mallows, Carpetweed.
The acid soil groups tell us the best which changes are occurring in the soils. acidity in the soil increases with lack of air, standing water in surface layer, cultivating in too wet a soil, insufficient cultivation, insufficient drainage, one-sided cultivation, wrong kind of fertilizers used, excess adic fertilizers, increasing sheet erosion and loss of humus.
Indicates –
Slightly acid soil due to insufficient cultivation ; Daisies, Horsetail, Field Sorrel, Prostate Knotweed.
Very acid Soil due to Wrong cultivation or insufficient drainage ; Cinquefoil, Swampy Horsetail, Hawkweed and knapweed.
Salty soils ; Shepards Purse, Russian Thistle, Sea Plantain, Sea Aster, Artemisia Maritima.
Hard Pan soils ; Wild Mustard and Horse Nettle.
Dry soils ; Mustard, Silvery Cinquefoil, Russian Thistle, Agrimony, catchfly, Broom Bush, Crotalaria, Dyers Greenweed, Rabbits Foot clover, Sweet clover, ST barnabys, Malthease Thistle, Common speedwel, Prostate Pigweed, Spurge, Shrubby ST Johnswort.
Sandy Soils : Most Golden rods, flowered Aster, Arrow Leaved wild lettuse, Yellow toad flax, Ononis, Partrdige Pea, Broom Bush.
Steepe Formation ; Russian Thisstle, Sage, Loco Weed.
Alcaline soils ; Sage brush, Woody Aster.
Lime Stone Soils ; Penny Cress, Field Peppergrass, Hares Ear mustard, Wormseed, Canada Blue Grass, Cornelian cherry, Barnabys Thisstle, Field madder, Mountain bluet, yellow Camomile.
High potasium in Soil ; Marsh mallow, wormwood, knapweed, Fumatory, Opium poppy. (Red clover disappears with lack of potasium)
Absence of lime ; Yellow Clover, Rabbits foot clover, fox glove, wild pansy, garden sorrel, sundews, white mullen, scotch broom, black vetchling.
Gypsum ; Common burdock
Moist badly Drained soils ; Smartweed, Mild water pepper, hedge bindweed, silverweed, white avens, swampy horsetail, meadow pink, hedge nettle, stinking willie, canada and narrow leaf goldenrod, tradescant, purple stem aster, joe pye weed, march foxtail, rice cut grass.
On Pastures ; Buttercups, Dock, knotweed, fingerweeds, white avens, grass leaved stickwort, ST Johnswort, pokeweed, Milkweed, Wild garlic, Briar, Thistles.
Sources of Minerals and Trace Elements –
bulbous Buttercup ; cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potasium
broad leaved dock ; phosphorus, potasium
chamomile ; calcium, potasium,
coltsfoor ; calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potasium, sulphur.
Sheperds purse ; calcium.
chickweed ; manganese, potasium
comfrey ; calcium, nitrogen potasium
creeping thistle ; calcium, copper, iron, potasium
daisy ; calcium, magnesium
dandelion ; calcium, copper, iron
fat hen ; calcium, iron
groundsel ; iron
pimpernel ; calcium
cleavers ; calcium
great pantain ; calcium, copper, iron, potasium, silica
horsetail ; calcium, cobalt, iron, magnesium, silica
silverweed ; iron, calcium, magnesium
sow thistle ; copper, potasium
stinging nettle ; calcium, copper, iron, nitrogen, potasium
sun spurge ; boron
valerian ; silica
yarrow ; copper, nitrogen, phosphorus, potasium,
tufted vetch ; cobalt, copper, phosphorus, potasium.
Vegetables
January
Amaranth, Asparagus Pea, Beans / Climbing & Bush, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Burdock, Carrots, Chives, Coriander, Cucumber, Huauzontle, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Malabar Greens, Mustard Greens, Okra, Oregano, Parsley, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Radish, Rocket, Rosella, Silverbeet, Squash, Sunflower, Sweet Corn, Turnips / Swedes, Warrigal Greens, NZ Spinach
Febuary
Amaranth, Asparagus Pea, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Burdock, Cabbage (tight-headed), Carrots, Chives, Coriander, Cucumber, Endive, Florence Fennel, Huauzontle, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Collards, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Long Yam, Luffa, Malabar Greens, Mangle-wurzel, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onion, Oregano, Pak Choy, Bok Choy etc, Parsley, Parsnip, Peas/Snow Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Rosella, Salsify, Shallots, Silverbeet, Spring Onions, Spinach, Squash, Sunflower, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Tomatoes, Turnips / Swedes, Warrigal Greens, NZ Spinach, Watermelon, Water Chestnut, Zucchini
March
Amaranth, Beetroot, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Burdock, Cabbage (loose-headed), Cabbage (tight-headed), Carrots, Cauliflower, Chives, Coriander, Endive, Florence Fennel, Kale, Collards, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Malabar Greens, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Oregano, Pak Choy, Bok Choy etc, Parsley, Parsnip, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Rosella, Salsify, Shallots, Silverbeet, Spinach, Turnips / Swedes
April
Beetroot, Broad Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Burdock, Cabbage (loose-headed), Cabbage (tight-headed), Carrots, Cauliflower, Chives, Endive, Garlic, Huauzontle, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Collards, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mangle-wurzel, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Onion, Oregano, Pak Choy, Bok Choy etc, Parsley, Peas/Snow Peas, Radish, Rocket, Salsify, Shallots, Silverbeet, Spinach, Turnips / Swedes
May
Broad Beans, Burdock, Cabbage (loose-headed), Cabbage (tight-headed), Carrots, Chicory, Chives, Endive, Garlic, Huauzontle, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mangle-wurzel, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Oregano, Pak Choy, Bok Choy etc, Parsley, Peas/Snow Peas, Radish, Rocket, Salsify, Shallots, Silverbeet, Spinach, Turnips / Swedes
June
Broad Beans, Cabbage (loose-headed), Cabbage (tight-headed), Chicory, Endive, Garlic, Jerusalem Artichoke, Lettuce, Onion, Peas/Snow Peas, Radish, Shallots
July
Broad Beans, Cabbage (loose-headed), Cabbage (tight-headed), Chicory, Endive, Garlic, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kohlrabi, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Onion, Parsnip, Peas/Snow Peas, Radish, Shallots
August
Artichoke (Globe), Asparagus, Beetroot, Cabbage (loose-headed), Cabbage (tight-headed), Chicory, Endive, Garlic, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Onion, Parsnip, Peas/Snow Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Shallots, Spinach, Spring Onions, Tomatoes, Watermelon
September
Amaranth, Artichoke (Globe), Asparagus, Asparagus Pea, Basil, Beans / Climbing & Bush, Beetroot, Broccoli, Burdock, Cabbage (loose-headed), Cabbage (tight-headed), Capsicum, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Chives, Coriander, Cucumber, Eggplant, Endive, Florence Fennel, Garlic, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Collards, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Malabar Greens, Mangle-wurzel, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Oregano, Pak Choy, Bok Choy etc, Parsley, Parsnip, Peas/Snow Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Salsify, Shallots, Silverbeet, Spinach, Tomatoes, Turnips / Swedes, Watermelon, Zucchini
October
Amaranth, Artichoke (Globe), Asparagus, Asparagus Pea, Basil, Beans / Climbing & Bush, Beetroot, Broccoli, Burdock, Cabbage (loose-headed), Cabbage (tight-headed),, Capsicum, Carrots, Chicory, Chilli, Chives, Coriander, Cucumber, Eggplant, Florence Fennel, Garlic, Kale, Collards, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Luffa, Malabar Greens, Mangle-wurzel, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Okra, Oregano, Pak Choy, Bok Choy etc, Parsley, Parsnip, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Rosella, Salsify, Silverbeet, Spring Onions, Squash, Sunflower, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Turnips / Swedes, Warrigal Greens, NZ Spinach, Watermelon, Water Chestnut, Zucchini
November
Amaranth, Artichoke (Globe), Asparagus, Asparagus Pea, Basil, Beans / Climbing & Bush, Beetroot, Broccoli, Burdock, Cabbage (loose-headed), Capsicum, Carrots, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chilli, Chives, Coriander, Cucumber, Eggplant, Kale, Collards, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Long Yam, Luffa, Malabar Greens, Mangle-wurzel, Mizuna, MustardGreens, Okra, Oregano, Parsley, Parsnip, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Rosella, Salsify, Silverbeet, Squash, Sunflower, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Turnips / Swedes, Warrigal Greens, NZ Spinach, Watermelon, Zucchini
December
Amaranth, Asparagus Pea, Basil, Beans / Climbing & Bush, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Burdock, Cabbage (tight-headed), Capsicum, Carrots, Chicory, Chilli, Chives, Coriander, Cucumber, Eggplant, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lettuce, Luffa, Malabar Greens, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Okra, Oregano, Parsley, Parsnip, Peas/Snow Peas, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radish, Rocket, Rockmelon, Rosella, Salsify, Silverbeet, Squash, Sunflower, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, Turnips / Swedes, Warrigal Greens, NZ Spinach, Watermelon, Zucchini
Perenial Crops
Rhubarb – Rheum rhabarbarum
Sorrel – Rumex acetosa
Chives – Allium schoenoprasum
Asparagus – Asparagus officinalis
Jerusalem artichoke – Helianthus tuberosus
Globe artichoke – Cynara scolymus
Horseradish – Armoracia rusticana
Watercress – Nasturtium officinale
Garlic (typically grown as an annual) – Allium sativum
Kale (typically grown as an annual) – Brassica oleracea var. sabellica
Bunching onions – Egyptian onions – Allium proliferum
Good King Henry – Chenopodium bonus-henricus
Lovage – Levisticum officinale
Rampsons – Allium ursinum
Ostrich fern – Matteuccia struthiopteris
Radicchio (typically grown as an annual) – Cichorium intybus
Three cornered leek – Allium triquetrum
Nasturtium -Nasturtium officinale
Groundnut Apios Americana
Scarlet Runner Beans -Phaseolus coccineus
Sea Kale – Crambe maritime
Fastest Growing
Apple , Avocado , Moringa, Guava, Plum , Lemon, Passion fruit , Raspberrys , Blue berry, Mulberry trees, Peach , Strawberrys, Cherrys , Mandarin , Papyaya , Fig , Custard Apple , Jujube, Banana / Plaintain, Lime, Elderberry, Chestnuts, Goose berry , Coji berry, Black Currant, Loquat, Olive, Bilberrys, Sweet Carob, Apricot, Nectrine, Paw Paw, Pear, Persimmon, Pomegranate, Hazel nuts.
What fruits can you grow in your climate?
Cool (choose low or high chill varieties): Apple, pear, peach, nectarine, plum, apricot, fig, mulberry, raspberry, blackberry, grape, olive and citrus.
Temperate (choose low-chill varieties): Apple, peach, nectarine, pear, plum, blueberry, kiwi fruit, medlar, date, nashi, apricot, olive and citrus
Sub-Tropical (usually grow well in coastal ;conditions from Mackay to Sydney): Avocado, passionfruit, guava, tamarillo, loquat, jaboticaba, walnut, babaco, black sapote and custard apple.
Tropical (protected from cold winds with warm, humid conditions): Papaya, pawpaw, rambutan, mango, pineapple, gooseberry, jackfruit, carambola and longan
Arid (dry in summer): Carob, feijoa, jujube, olive, pomegranate, fig, pistachio, almond, grape, quince and citrus.
Pest Managment species
· Alyssum, Carpet of Snow – attracts beneficial insects
· Basil, Cinnamon – repels mosquitoes and deters potato beetles
· Basil, Genovese – all around my favorite to repel almost everything
· Borage- repels tomato hornworms and deters squash bugs
· Calendula- to deter cabbage moths and aphids
· Chamomile, German
· Chives- to deter aphids and Japanese beetles
· Cilantro – to attract hoverflies
· Dill- helps cabbage family and attracts beneficial insects
· Marigold- to repel cabbage moths, potato beetles and squash bugs
· Nasturium- to repel aphids, potato bugs and squash bugs, but also to attract a lot of bugs away from your other vegetables
· Oregano- to deter a wide variety of insects
· Painted Daisy
· Parsley- to attract hoverflies
· Petunia, Dwarf Mix – repels aphids
· Sage- to deter cabbage moths and carrot flies
· Sunflower- to attract bug eating birds
· Thyme- to deter cabbage moths
· zinnia- to attract Japanese beetles away from your beans
Medicinal Herb Garden
· Anise Hyssop
· Basil, Genovese
· Basil, Holy
· Bee Balm
· Chamomile, German
· Catnip
· Calendula, Pacific Beauty
· Cilantro
· Dill, Bouquet
· Korean Licorice Mint
· Lavender, Vera
· Lemon Balm
· Lemon Mint
· Spearmint
· Echinacea
· Parsley, Flat leaf
· Plantain
· Yarrow
Fruit all Year round
January: Capulin cherries, blueberries, plums, plumcotts, late apricots, pawpaws, lemons, lychees, strawberries and all the brambleberries, peaches, nectarines, plums.
February: Apples, figs, blueberries, jackfruit, jaboticoba, guava, pepinos, lychees, nashi, pears, rockmelons and watermelons, more berries.
March: Apples, olives, avocadoes, custard apples, lychees, brambleberries, early quinces, early persimmons, pears, melons, grapes, strawberries and brambleberries.
April: Pomegranates, medlars, pears, Valencia oranges, lemons, early limes, olives, late figs, quinces, Granny Smith and other medium late apples, passionfruit, tamarillos, late grapes, chestnuts, walnuts, persimmons, grapefruit, guavas, feijoas, strawberry guavas, carob, chestnuts, Brazilian cherries, pomegranates, guavas, jackfruit, early calamondins, lillypillies, kerriberries, late strawberries, raspberries, bananas, avocadoes, Irish strawberry-tree fruit, melons, pistachios and pecans.
May: Figs, early mandarins, limes, pomegranates, late apples, late Valencia or early Navel oranges, tangelos, citrons, kumquats, tamarillos, early kiwifruit, late passionfruit high up on the vine, late raspberries, late strawberries if grown on a high garden away from early frost, olives, persimmons if the birds havent finished them, feijoa, bananas, medlars.
June: Apples (Lady Williams, Sturmer Pippin, French Crab), feijoa, Navel oranges, kiwifruit, limes, mandarins, citrons, grapefruit, bananas, avocadoes, late passionfruit high on the vine, banana passionfruit, guava, strawberry guava, pomegranates if the birds havent eaten them, lillypillies in warm areas, citrons, medlars, olives, late tamarillos above the frost, winter rhubarb.
July: Apples (Lady Williams, Sturmer Pippin, French Crab), feijoa, Navel oranges, kiwifruit, limes, mandarins, citrons, grapefruit, bananas, avocadoes, late passionfruit high on the vine, banana passionfruit, guava, strawberry guava, pomegranates if the birds havent eaten them, lillypillies in warm areas, citrons, medlars, olives, late tamarillos above the frost, winter rhubarb.
August: Sturmer Pippin or Lady Williams apples that improve when stored and wrinkled, unlike most other fruit, stored quinces, Navel oranges, lemons, lemonade fruit, custard apples in warm areas, tangelos, mandarins, cumquats, calamondins, pomelos, shaddock, satsuma, lillypillies in warm areas, Atherton raspberries in warmer areas, Japanese raisin fruit (swollen stems), kiwifruit, grapefruit, avocadoes, a few macadamia nuts, rhubarb and Tahitian and kaffir limes.
September: Navel oranges, lemons, grapefruit, cumquats, calamondins, limes, tangelos, tangor, mandarins, avocadoes, small alpine strawberries (not the large, new varieties that fruit later), Japanese raisin fruit, lillypillies, pawpaw in warmer areas, Cape gooseberries if they havent been frosted off (autumn will mature now), ditto tamarillos, early loquats and rhubarb.
October: Loquats, Navel oranges, lemons, limes, tangelos, tangor, mandarins, grapefruit, cumquats, calamondins, pomelos, citrons, Tahitian limes, kaffir limes, citrons, early blueberries, lillypillies, Japanese raisin fruit, avocadoes, early strawberries, early raspberries in warm spots, rhubarb, banana passionfruit and tamarillos ripening from last season. Keep eating stored Lady Williams apples and nuts.
November: Cherries, early peaches, early nectarines, early apricots, small early plums, loquats, oranges, mandarins, citrons, bush lemons, early Capulin cherries, lemons, limes, grapefruit, tangelos, avocadoes, strawberries, blueberries, early loganberries, Japanese raisin fruit, lillypillies and early raspberries.
December: Cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums, apricots, passionfruit, banana passionfruit, gooseberries, Cape gooseberries, Valencia oranges left on the tree, lemons, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, boysenberries and other brambleberries such as loganberries, Capulin cherries, lillypillies and sometimes early figs.
Edible Flowers
Nasturtium – Whirlybird
Cornflower – Mixed
Pansy – Swiss Giant
Borage – Blue
Forget-Me-Not – Mixed
Viola – Johnny Jump Up
Sun Flower
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