Achira Canna Edulis

Achira is an extremely important root crop to the Andian culture. Very ornamental in a garden looking like the ornamental varieties of Canna. I absolutely love the textural bold foliage. It can be grown in full sun or part shade. The tubers can be steamed and/or baked like a potato and also is made into an arrowroot like powder to thicken foods. The leaves are steamed like greens and are quite nutritious containing 10% protein. The immature seeds are ground and made into tortillas and when mature used as buck shot, hence one of its common names “Indian Shot”.