Plant library
Growing guides checked by local gardeners, with planting times worked out from 30 years of climate data.
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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.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.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.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.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.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.