Mushroom Plant - Rungia klossii

The Mushroom Plant, or Rungia Klossi, is a botanical curiosity native to Papua New Guinea. From the Acanthaceae family, this perennial tuberous plant is cultivated for its aromatic and flavorful foliage, with an astonishing mushroom-like taste.

Rungia Klossi forms a clump of glossy green leaves that reaches between 50 cm (20in) and one meter in height and is adorned with a beautiful blue flowering. Easy to grow, the Mushroom Plant thrives in rich soil, in shade or partial shade. As a non-hardy perennial, it is best cultivated in pots in less forgiving regions for easy storage during winter, protected from frost but exposed to light. It can also be grown as an annual, like basil.

In cooking, the leaves of the Mushroom Plant can be prepared like spinach, raw or cooked, in salads or as a garnish. They will add a brilliant flavour to omelettes and various slow-cooked dishes. From a nutritional standpoint, Rungia Klossi is also very interesting as it is rich in vitamin C, beta-carotene, and iron.

Harvesting: The leaves should be harvested as needed, but regular harvesting is recommended always to have fresh and beautiful leaves available.

Storage: The branches can be stored in a glass of water for a few days, like parsley.