Lost Crops of the Incas

The edible  Canna from Peru with very big juicy rhizomes, high in starch.  Grown for food in the Andes. Beautiful foliage.

Queensland Arrowroot

Canna edulis

syn. C. esculenta, C. achiras, C. rubricaulis

Family: Cannaceae

You are bidding on * live starter plant seedlings with vigorous root systems * inches tall with * leaves born and growing in a  small container for ease of transplant.

 

Achira is one of the diverse of the Andean roots and tubers from the Incas with archeological evidence  of human use from 3,500 years ago in Peru.

Achira is an impressive extremely hardy perennial ornamental, growing as tall as eight feet, with large,  tropical looking leaves and showy flowers. It also happens to produce large, edible rhizomes that can reach nearly three feet. The harvest of a single plant  can be as high as sixty pounds.

Read even more about this Root Crop Plant:

A large purple/red, round rhizome/tuber that can be larger than a clasped fist. Tubers develop side shoots,  forming a large mass of tubers that can be 60cm in diameter and weigh over 20kg.

Typical canna-shaped red flowers, but they are not as large as canna varieties that are grown as  ornamentals. If planted in rich soil and given regular watering, this plant will grow vigorously, producing lush leaves and stalks and high yields of edible  tubers.

Large smooth green leaves to about 1-2m high with thick rhizomes underneath. It is a tough plant - drought and frost tolerant and pest free.

This plant was once a significant crop in Queensland, Australia. The flour from it was used as the basis of the well known Arrowroot biscuits. These had a  fine texture and subtle flavor.

      Achira is slightly resistant to frost, but more than a few hours of exposure to temperatures below freezing will generally kill  the tops. It is said to be able to tolerate snow (NRC 1989) but I'm not sure how to square that with our experience. On the  rare occasions when it gets cold enough to snow here, AQchira foliage does not survive. Perhaps there are varieties that are  more cold tolerant than those in our collection.

Achira needs regular water. The rhizomes confer some drought  tolerance, but the eating quality is poor when the plant has been forced to draw from them in dry conditions. As long as the  soil is not heavy and sodden, it is hard to over-water Achira.

   Achira will perform best in the warmer, humid parts of the Pacific Northwest. It is well suited for growing in the Puget  Sound region, Southwest Washington, Portland and the Willamette Valley, Southwest Oregon, and the North Coast of California and  will also grow well in Coastal Washington and Oregon, the San Juan and Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, and Southwest British  Columbia, although yields will be lower in these cooler areas. It can be grown east of the Cascades as well, although early  frosts may prove to be a problem in some years.

Grown as a perennial, Achira should be hardy in USDA zone 8a or warmer. Harvested annually and replanted in the spring, it can  probably perform reasonably well down to zone 6.

Specifications

Bloom Color:  Red
Foliage Color: Green
Height: 2½ to 3 feet
Sun Exposure: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Bloom Time: 3 months after planting in garden in zone 7. Earliest bloom if grown indoors at 75F are 8-12 weeks. Blooms until frost.
Hardiness Zone: In zones 7-10 cannas can be safely left in the ground during the winter. Oklahoma and Texas represent zone 7-9. Northern zones  are 1-6. Cannas grown in zones 5 and colder must be dug and stored during the winter.

Achira seems to work well as a substitution in recipes that call  for potato, turnip, or rutabaga.

 

Arrowroot will  also perform well in poor soils, and dry conditions. Arrowroot likes a sunny position, but  will also perform well in part shade.

As the plant is so easy to grow, and a heavy producer, I  encourage home gardeners to dig the tubers often for kitchen  use. Arrowroot for eating, is best used when young, at about  half size, before the fiber develops. When tubers are large and  aged, they can be quite fibrous.

Arrowroot can be eaten raw, or  steamed, roasted, barbecued, diced finely and added to  stir-fries, casseroles, stews, soups, in fact in any meat or  savory dish. Arrowroot does not have a lot of flavor on its  own, but added to other ingredients; it makes a useful  meal extender.

All good things  take time, so I grow my plants and rare palms in  my  ebay store.

Much more to check out or just get a little  education on in my store.

 

Shipping

 

ATTENTION USA BIDDERS!

        All bare-root live plants shipped are wrapped in moist sphagnum moss to ensure the plant's healthy transit to you. All live plants are Inspected By USDA Plant Inspectors before      they are shipped to insure you get healthy pest free plants and seeds.

We ship via USPS Mondays-Wednesday with Delivery confirmation.

    All plant materials are required by LAW to inspected and certified by USDA prior to export Hawaii to the US Mainland.

After Inspection, USDA stamps released for export Hawaii to the US Mainland. All items are delivered to USDA Inspection Station at  Honolulu International airport.

USDA Certification charge  is included in Shipping and Handling @ $5 fee per item/species.

There is a packing and custom boxing fee.

Last and usually least is USPS postage (shipping)

ATTENTION INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS!

We can ship certified live plants to the US only. Only Domestic Shipping and Handling includes  USDA Certification.

International Buyers
– Please Note:
The additional charge ($75US) for any Phytosanitary Certificate  is not included in this offer. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility.

We do ship Seeds Internationally worldwide.

Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding or buying.

Proper Permits and Documents are the Buyer's responsibility.

Please request any documents prior to shipping.

For foreign customers, please check your laws concerning permitting and customs,  additional shipping and handling costs may apply.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING ON LIVE PLANTS is available only under these conditions!

All international orders are shipped at the  BUYER'S RISK

 (shipped with or without documents) and no refunds or replacements are offered for Dead On Arrival, loss,  confiscation, Customs Seizure, unanticipated charges, etc.

All International shipments are at Buyer's Risk. Please spend no more more than you can lose!

 

Payment

We accept online payments only through PayPal, Cash payments are only acceptable for in-person pick-ups and cash-on-delivery  (COD). Cash payment can not be sent through the mail. Message me if you want to send cash.

   

Please only one Paypal payment. SO THE COMBINED SHIPPING RULE WILL CAN BE USED. Late or Multiple PayPal payments are  NOT eligible for any discount.

We will ship once a week - ON or BEFORE WEDNESDAYS, because of the special stamps needed to ship plants and cuttings  to you. This can only be done at the Dept. of Agriculture. If payments are not met before that MONDAY, your items will be shipped the following week and  NOT eligible for any combined discount. Non-paying bidders will be reported as an unpaid item to eBay.

COMBINED SHIPPING POLICY

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING is not included in this offer.

   

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING ON LIVE PLANTS on a case by case basis.

We will combine shipping for auctions won on the same week paid with same PayPal payment.

This policy is good for auction items bought and paid for in the week ending MONDAY.

We ship on Tuesdays.

Payment must be received within 4 days of the auction ending.

Combined Discounts Won Auctions

For 2-3 winning auctions, the combined discount is 10% of the total Shipping and Handling charges.

For 4-7 winning auctions, the combined discount is 20% of the total Shipping and Handling charges.

For 8+ winning auctions, the combined discount is 30% of the total Shipping and Handling charges.

As each order is packed and prepared separately you will pay the quoted S/H charges  individually per item. If you buy the same species in that item it does calculate out the discount (i.e.: additional items)

My stores' combined shipping is built in for same items rather than a varied selection. Domestic S/H includes  postage, USDA certification and inspection, proper packing and delivery to Airport for prompt delivery.

I can't really change any of these. If you want one of this and one of that, it is hard to discount much as each  different species requires it's own prep, packing, then at USDA each has to be unwrapped and inspected then repacked. USDA requires us to clean and  prepare every last piece before we drive them to the Inspection Station on the other side of the island.

This requirement takes my wife and I, 2-3 days to pack items and get ready to ship. The whole next day we drive  around the island and get inspected (2-3 hours), then drive to the Airport Post Office to drop off. It takes the same work with the same type item if  you can understand.

LIVE PLANTS ARE PERISHABLE.

There is the risk when you grow plants that they may die. LIVE PLANTS are PERISHABLE, guaranteed not to live forever.

US orders ONLY are GUARANTEED LIVE ARRIVAL. All International orders are shipped at the BUYER's RISK!

When you order a plant we assume you are prepared to care for it. It is your responsibility to know how to care  for the plant. Do some research before they arrive or seek experienced help.

 Small plants need protection from many things, wind, sun, dry-out. They do well just in the garage or living  room. They need good light but not sunlight (full sun will burn small plants). Small pots dry-out easily. Just sitting in a shallow tray of water works well. The idea is to keep the plants from dehydrating.

Be careful if you decide to re-pot.  Re-potting voids any warranty. Plants are easily damaged with new/different mix. Use NO fertilizers (this may kill your plants).  Proper care is critical upon arrival. Live Plants are NOT GUARANTEED  to survive under your care. DO NOT expect any live plant to be GUARANTEED to remain alive. Plants are NOT GUARANTEED TO SURVIVE after you begin Care! Live arrival  is guaranteed, eternal survival is up to you.

NO REPLACEMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED IF YOU HAVE REPOTTED THE PLANT.

 IF YOU are NOT able to provide PROPER CARE, PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT plant to be GUARANTEED after it perishes.

BROWN THUMB WARNING:

Please Do NOT email me after a week after receiving and repotting your plant, and make a claim it arrived  damaged. All photo support must be as arrived in original condition  when received (in the box and packed as delivered).

If you repot your plant after delivery, all warranties are voided and no replacement is offered.  You should use good gardening skills and repot if desired but at buyer's risk and expense.

If repotted, you are responsible for the condition of the plant. NO REPLACEMENT or REFUND WILL BE CONSIDERED IF YOU HAVE REPOTTED THE PLANT.

Not every plant that I grow survives, and I am aware of that and accept the risk when I order. This is the risk that  you as the buyer accept, because there is no way to know what kind of conditions it will endure in the trip to your door. My responsibility ends when a live  plant is delivered to your door.

You are agreeing to these terms when you make this purchase from this listing.

 

eBay Return Policy

If you need to return an item, be sure to follow these item condition guidelines.

For details on the seller's return policy (including how long you have to return an item, who pays for return  shipping, and restocking fees), check the Return policy section of this listing.

 From delivery confirmation, you have only 48 hours from delivery confirmation to make any  'Arrived Damaged' claim. 

  All claims need to be supported with Photos of the damaged plant(s) as packed/unpacked, the box if damaged, the packing materials and any documents.

You must return an item in the same condition as it was received, not used or altered in any way.

You must also include, in the same condition as it was received:
All original packaging such as boxes, bags, tags, and UPCs
Accessories such as cords and remote controls
Certificates, manuals, warranty, and rebate cards
"Free gifts" or bonus items
All items included in a bundle
Make sure you follow these guidelines. If you don't, you may be subject to a range of actions, including limits  of your buying and selling privileges and suspension of your account.

I am very reasonable and understanding, anything can happen to small plants in transit, for this reason uninsurable.

The expense to send it to you is most of your payment. To send any replacements, I try to piggy back with your next order.

Replacement is not an option for CUSTOMS SEIZURE.

ALL OF MY ITEMS ARE SHIPPED USDA CERTIFIED WITHIN THE U.S. - USDA and USPS fees  are included in the actual cost of shipping and Handling.

Please do not leave a 1 or 2 in my detailed seller ratings for postage fees or any  reason really because I will block you from any further purchases.
 
Please contact me before eBay if you have any issue. I am the one  who can help you. Do not open any case for any reason really because I will block you from any further purchases.

I ship items the best and least expensive option. These are coming from Hawaii.  The only thing inexpensive here in Hawaii are my items!! I do ship all my items promptly via best method. If you feel  like the combined shipping fee is wrong, please wait to be invoiced and check back with me! I value your business and  will work diligently to keep you satisfied. I am very generous and reasonable with reasonable people, just ask.

my dog Taz will fetch your email to me

If you are dissatisfied with the item for any reason, please contact me before leaving a negative or neutral comment.

I want you to be satisfied!

Mahalo iâ `oe no ke kipa `ana mai. E kipa mai hou!

Rare Seeds

Fresh Highest  Quality