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.Asparagus
VegetableA long-lived perennial that gives tender spears every spring for 15 to 20 years once established. Plant crowns in a deep, weed-free bed enriched with compost in winter. The key is patience: don't harvest in the first year, pick lightly in the second, then fully from year three.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.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.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.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.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.Desert lime
BushfoodA very hardy native citrus from inland Australia that copes with Adelaide's heat, drought and frost. Its small, tangy fruit is great for marmalade, sauces and drinks. Plants grown from seed are slow and very thorny; grafted plants fruit sooner.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.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.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.Globe artichoke
VegetableA big, silver-leaved perennial that crops for about four years and suits Adelaide's Mediterranean climate well. Plant suckers or named plants in late autumn to winter, and pick the buds in spring. Its spiny wild relative is a declared weed in SA, so cut buds before they flower and go to seed.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.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.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.Macadamia
BushfoodAustralia's best-known bushfood nut, native to the subtropical east coast. It grows in Adelaide in a sheltered, frost-free spot with deep, well-drained soil and regular summer water, and starts cropping after 4 or 5 years. Grafted dwarf cultivars suit backyards and large pots.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.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.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.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.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.Rhubarb
VegetableA long-lived perennial grown for its tart stalks, planted as crowns in winter or from seedlings in spring. It needs rich soil, plenty of water in summer and some afternoon shade in hot Adelaide weather. Only the stalks are edible: the leaves are toxic.River mint
BushfoodA native mint with a fresh spearmint flavour that grows naturally along creeks. It needs moist soil and some shade in Adelaide. Grow it in a pot or a damp corner and cut it back often for fresh growth.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.Spring onion
VegetableA quick, easy onion grown for green stems rather than bulbs, ready in 8 to 10 weeks. Sow little and often almost all year in Adelaide. Bunching (Welsh) types can be cut again and again or left to form clumps.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.Taro
VegetableA tropical root crop with huge heart-shaped leaves, grown for its starchy corms. It needs a long, warm, frost-free season and lots of water, so it suits the tropics and subtropics best. Plant in spring in cooler areas. Every part is toxic raw: always cook corms and leaves well.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.Warrigal greens
BushfoodA sprawling native leafy green that grows through summer heat when spinach bolts. It's easy, drought tolerant and self-sows freely. Blanch the leaves briefly and discard the water before eating, to reduce oxalates.