Plant library
Growing guides checked by local gardeners, with planting times worked out from 30 years of climate data.
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Basil
HerbA fragrant summer herb that loves Adelaide's heat and pairs with tomatoes in the garden and the kitchen. Sow or plant once nights stay warm, as cold snaps blacken it. Pinch out the flower spikes and tips often to keep plants bushy and leafy.Bay tree
HerbA slow-growing Mediterranean evergreen whose leaves flavour soups, stocks and stews. It suits Adelaide well: it handles hot, dry summers, wet winters and light frost. Grow it in a large pot or clip it as a hedge to keep it from reaching 8 m.Chives
HerbA tough perennial clump with mild onion-flavoured leaves and edible purple flowers that bees love. It grows in garden beds or pots and comes back each spring. Cut leaves near the base often, and divide clumps every few years to keep them vigorous.Coriander
HerbA fast herb grown for leaves, seeds and roots. In Adelaide it bolts to seed in a few weeks of warm weather, so it does best sown in autumn and late winter. Sow directly where it's to grow and keep sowing small batches every few weeks.Dill
HerbA feathery annual herb used for leaves and seeds, and one of the best plants for attracting hoverflies and small predatory wasps. Sow directly in spring or autumn; it doesn't like transplanting. Keep it away from carrots and fennel as they can cross and compete.Garlic chives
HerbA tough perennial with flat, garlic-flavoured leaves and white starry flowers in late summer. It handles Adelaide's heat better than common chives and dies back a little in winter. Toxic to dogs and cats, so keep pets away from it.German chamomile
HerbGerman chamomile is a feathery annual grown for its apple-scented daisy flowers, used fresh or dried for tea. Sow in autumn or early spring; seed needs light, so press it on the surface without covering. Pick flowers as they fully open, every few days.Ginger
HerbA tropical plant grown for its spicy rhizomes. In Adelaide treat it as a warm-season pot plant: plant in mid to late spring, keep it warm and moist through summer, then harvest when the leaves die back in late autumn or winter. Move pots to shelter over winter.Lemon balm
HerbA hardy, lemon-scented herb in the mint family, used fresh or dried for tea. In Adelaide it grows best with afternoon shade and regular water, and can scorch in full summer sun. It self-seeds and spreads, so a pot keeps it tidy.Lemongrass
HerbA tropical clumping grass whose lemony stem bases are used in Asian cooking. It grows strongly in Adelaide's summer but slows and can brown off in cold winters, so plant in a warm, sunny spot or a large pot. Plant in spring and water well in hot weather.Mint
HerbA vigorous perennial herb for tea, salads and cooking that spreads quickly by runners. Grow it in a pot (or a pot sunk in the ground) to stop it taking over beds. It likes moisture and some afternoon shade in Adelaide summers.Oregano
HerbA tough Mediterranean perennial herb that thrives in Adelaide's hot dry summers and poor soils. Its flowers draw bees and beneficial insects. Give it full sun and free drainage; rich soil and too much water make it lanky and less flavoursome.Parsley
HerbA biennial herb that gives leaves for months, sown or planted in autumn or spring in Adelaide. Seed is slow to germinate (up to 3 weeks), so many gardeners buy seedlings. Pick outer stems regularly and keep the plant watered to delay flowering.Rosemary
HerbA tough evergreen Mediterranean herb that thrives on little water in Adelaide's hot dry summers. It needs full sun and excellent drainage; wet feet kill it faster than drought. Its winter flowers feed bees when little else is flowering.Sage
HerbA hardy Mediterranean herb with soft grey leaves, well suited to Adelaide's dry summers. Plant in full sun with sharp drainage and water sparingly once established. Trim after flowering to keep it bushy, and replace plants every 4 to 5 years when they go woody.Thai basil
HerbA basil with purple stems and an aniseed flavour for Thai and Vietnamese cooking. It handles heat and humidity better than sweet basil and is slower to bolt. Grow it year round in the tropics and through the warm months in the subtropics and the south. Frost kills it.Thyme
HerbA small, tough Mediterranean herb that thrives in Adelaide's hot, dry conditions and suits pots, edges and rockeries. Full sun and free drainage are essential. Trim regularly to keep plants compact; the flowers are excellent for bees.Turmeric
HerbA leafy ginger relative grown for its bright orange rhizomes. It thrives in the tropics and subtropics and can be grown in pots or a warm, sheltered spot in the south. Plant pieces in spring into warm soil, then dig the rhizomes when the leaves yellow in late autumn or winter.