Plant library
Growing guides checked by local gardeners, with planting times worked out from 30 years of climate data.
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Apple
Fruit treeA deciduous fruit tree for crisp autumn fruit, well suited to the Adelaide Hills and cooler suburbs with summer watering. Most varieties need a pollination partner that flowers at the same time, so check before you buy or choose a self-fertile type. Plant bare-rooted in winter and mulch well.Apricot
Fruit treeA fast-growing stone fruit that crops heavily in Adelaide's warm, dry summers, with fruit from late spring into early summer. Most common varieties are self-fertile, so one tree is enough. The one thing to get right: prune only in late summer or autumn in dry weather, as winter pruning invites gummosis and silver leaf.Avocado
Fruit treeA large evergreen tree that can crop in Adelaide with care. It is frost-tender and hates hot, dry wind and wet feet, so plant in spring in a warm, sheltered spot with perfect drainage, ideally on a mound. Choose a cold-tolerant variety such as Bacon or Hass and water deeply through summer.Banana
Fruit treeA fast-growing giant herb that fruits well in the tropics and subtropics and in warm, sheltered temperate gardens. It needs heat, rich soil and lots of water, and frost kills the leaves. Each stem fruits once. Panama disease is a serious threat, so only buy certified plants from an approved nursery and never move suckers.Cape gooseberry
FruitA fast, sprawling shrub from South America with sweet-tart golden berries inside papery husks. In Adelaide it fruits from summer into autumn, about five to six months after planting, and lasts two or three years in frost-free spots. Frost kills it, so plant out after the last frost or grow in a pot.Carambola
Fruit treeA small tropical tree with waxy, star-shaped fruit that crops for much of the year in the tropics. It also grows in warm subtropical gardens with shelter from wind and cold. It is frost-tender, so in cool climates grow it in a large pot under cover. Choose a sweet variety.Custard apple
Fruit treeA semi-deciduous tree with creamy, sweet fruit, at its best in the subtropics. It also crops in warm, sheltered temperate gardens with a sunny, north-facing spot, but won't set fruit in cold spells and young trees are frost-tender. Not suited to cold inland or southern areas.Dragon fruit
FruitA climbing cactus with spectacular night flowers and bright fruit. It grows well in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate areas, and in sheltered frost-free spots further south. It needs a strong post or trellis and full sun. In cold climates grow it in a big pot under cover. It has escaped into bush in parts of eastern Australia.Fig
Fruit treeOne of the easiest fruit trees for Adelaide: drought hardy once established, self-fertile and almost pest-free. Most varieties give a small early crop and a main crop in late summer and autumn. The main job is protecting ripening fruit from birds and keeping it watered as fruit swells.Finger lime
BushfoodA rainforest citrus whose finger-shaped fruit is filled with zesty 'caviar' pearls. In Adelaide it needs protection from hot afternoon sun and wind, and regular water. Grafted plants fruit in 2 to 3 years and suit large pots.Grapevine
FruitA long-lived deciduous vine that thrives in Adelaide's Mediterranean climate and can shade a pergola in summer while giving fruit in late summer and autumn. Plant in full sun in winter. The one thing to get right is winter pruning: grapes fruit on this season's shoots from last year's wood.Lemon
Fruit treeAdelaide's classic backyard fruit tree, giving lemons most of the year. Plant in full sun with free drainage and shelter from strong wind. Citrus are hungry and shallow-rooted: feed in late winter and late summer, water deeply in summer and keep grass and mulch clear of the trunk.Lychee
Fruit treeA handsome evergreen tree for the subtropics and the cooler tropics. It needs a week or more of cool nights below 20 °C to flower, then warm, humid summers. It is frost-tender when young and does poorly in cold or dry inland areas. Expect a small crop after 4 or 5 years.Mandarin
Fruit treeAn easy, compact citrus that's ideal for Adelaide backyards and large pots, with sweet fruit from autumn to spring depending on variety. Like all citrus it needs full sun, free drainage and regular feeding. Choose a mix of early and late varieties to stretch the season.Mango
Fruit treeA big evergreen tree that crops best in the tropics and subtropics, with a dry spell before flowering. It can grow in sheltered, frost-free temperate spots but rarely fruits well there. In cool climates grow a dwarf grafted tree in a large pot and move it under cover in winter.Mulberry
Fruit treeA hardy, long-lived tree that crops heavily in late spring and early summer, even in tough Adelaide conditions. Black mulberry fruit is rich and juicy but stains everything, so plant away from paths and washing lines. Net or share with the birds.Orange
Fruit treeSweet oranges grow well in Adelaide's warm, dry summers, as the Riverland orchards show. Washington navels are the classic eating orange, ripening in winter; Valencias ripen in spring and summer and are best for juice. Plant in full sun with free drainage, feed well and water deeply in summer.Papaya
Fruit treeA fast, short-lived tree that crops well in the tropics and subtropics and in warm, sheltered temperate gardens. It is frost-tender and hates wet roots, so plant in spring on a mound or raised bed. Bisexual varieties fruit on their own. In cool climates growth stalls and fruit rarely ripens.Passionfruit
FruitA vigorous evergreen climber that fruits heavily in Adelaide's warm months when grown on a sunny fence or trellis. Most are grafted: rub off any shoots from below the graft, or the rootstock can take over. Feed and water well from spring to autumn, and avoid digging around the shallow roots.Peach
Fruit treeA fast-growing stone fruit that crops well on the Adelaide plains and in the Hills, with fruit from late spring to autumn depending on variety. Most varieties are self-fertile, so one tree is enough. Plant bare-rooted in winter and spray for leaf curl at bud swell each year.Pineapple
FruitA spiky bromeliad that fruits outdoors in the tropics and subtropics and in warm, frost-free temperate gardens. Plant a store-bought top or a sucker in spring in free-draining soil. It takes about two years to fruit. In cool climates grow it in a pot and bring it in for winter.Plum (European and Japanese)
Fruit treeA tough, productive stone fruit that does well across Adelaide, with Japanese plums ripening in summer and European plums in late summer and autumn. Japanese plums need less winter chill and suit the plains best. Many varieties need a pollination partner of the same group, so check before you buy.Pomegranate
Fruit treeA tough, deciduous shrub or small tree with bright orange-red flowers and jewel-seeded fruit in autumn. It is made for Adelaide: it loves long hot summers, handles frost, alkaline soil and dry spells, and needs little chill. Water evenly as fruit ripens to stop it splitting.Raspberry
FruitA cane berry that fruits in summer or autumn depending on type. Raspberries prefer cooler climates, so in Adelaide they do best in the Hills or on the plains with afternoon shade, mulch and steady water. Canes sucker, so grow them where they can be contained and choose thornless or near-thornless cultivars.Rockmelon
VegetableA sweet summer melon that loves Adelaide's long hot season. Sow or plant in late spring in warm, rich, free-draining soil. Cut back on water as fruit ripens for the sweetest flavour; it's ready when it slips easily from the stem and smells sweet.Strawberry
FruitA favourite for gardens and pots that fruits from spring into summer. Plant runners in autumn or winter into rich, slightly acidic, well-drained soil, keeping the crown at soil level. Mulch with straw to keep fruit clean, and net against birds.Tahitian lime
Fruit treeThe easiest lime for home gardens: large, seedless fruit on an almost thornless tree, cropping mainly from autumn into winter. In Adelaide plant it in a warm, sunny, sheltered spot such as against a north-facing wall. It is less cold hardy than lemons, so protect young trees from frost in the Hills.Watermelon
VegetableA sprawling summer vine that needs Adelaide's long hot season, plenty of space and warm soil. Sow or plant in late spring. A melon is ripe when the tendril nearest it has browned and the patch underneath turns creamy yellow.