Mushroom Plant on Real World Gardener radio show

Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

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Scientific Name: Rungia klossii

Common name: Mushroom plant

Family: Acanthaceae

Origin: New Guinea

Rungia klossii is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.6 m x 0.6 m at a medium rate.
Soils: Suitable for: light or sandy, medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.

Habitat: Mushroom plant can grow in semi-shade but not full sun in an Australian summer. It prefers dry or moist soil if grown in the ground otherwise growing in a pot is very successful.

Description:The shiny mid green have a yellowish mid-rib.

The elliptic leaves are arranged in pairs with adjacent pairs perpendicular to one another (decussate leaf arrangement mush like in a hydrangea).

Flowers: Blue flowers that appear in a cluster in ideal positions.

proteins.
Harvesting: The Mushroom plant can be harvested all year round, but the best is to harvest during the active growth period to provide a bushy growth.

Uses: In the kitchen it's used in salads, soups and wok dishes, a small cooking even increases the mushroom aroma.

Frosts: Low frosts are tolerated but lead to leaf loss.

Fun fact: Higher in protein that actual mushrooms.

What is it exactly and why is it called mushroom plant.

Let's star with, how do you love your mushrooms?
In a risotto, sautéed with scrambled eggs, in soups or salads?
Perhaps you don’t like them at all.
Here’s a way to enjoy the taste without the texture and it’s all natural.

The leaves are somewhat stiff and lightly curled at the tip.

Yes, the leaves taste like mushrooms with a crispy texture and nothing more.

Rungia klossii: Mushroom plant Mushroom plant Photo: M Cannon

So, let’s find out how and why, by listening to the podcast.
I've been talking with Corinne Mossati, founder of the gourmantic garden. /https://thegourmanticgarden.com/
Corinne's favourite use of the plant is finely chopped into salads for that burst of flavour.
Mushroom plant is a perennial that although it grows well in tropical and sub-tropical areas, it needs protection from frost in cooler climates.
The best way to grow it there is in a pot, which by the way, has served me well over the years.
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