When to Plant Bay Tree in Canberra, Cold / Highland Guide
What this month normally looks like in Cold / Highland
In October the Cold / Highland zone normally runs 20°C by day and 7°C overnight, with about 58 mm of rain over 7 or 8 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -6.4°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 15 postcodes, SILO.
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This Bay Tree guide is written for the Cold / Highland zone, which takes in Canberra, Cooma and Bright. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Sep to Nov
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 80 cm apart
- Soil pH
- slightly acid–neutral
Bay is a slow growing, dense evergreen tree whose leaves flavour stews, soups and sauces. In the ground it can reach 4 to 8 m, so most home gardeners keep it in a large pot or clip it into a hedge or topiary.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Cold / Highland
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Evergreen Trees says it takes light to moderate frost once established, and Garden Express says frost tolerant. Gardening sources put its limit near minus 5°C, so hard highland frosts will scorch it. Plant in spring and grow it in a sheltered spot or a pot that can come under cover.
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How to Grow Bay Tree in Cold / Highland Australia
- Soil
- Free draining, moist soil with plenty of humus (Garden Express). Loam or sandy loam, slightly acid to neutral (Evergreen Trees). Dig in well rotted compost or manure before planting (Garden Express).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- slightly acid to neutral
- Sunlight
- Full sun or part shade (Garden Express, Evergreen Trees).
- Spacing
- 80cm apart
- Watering
- Deep water twice a week in the first 12 months, then about weekly in dry spells (Evergreen Trees). Moderate water. It dislikes waterlogging and also dislikes drying out, and the roots are shallow (Garden Express).
Cold / Highland Growing Tips for Bay Tree
Recommended Varieties
- Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis)
Key Challenges
- Hard frost scorching the leaves
- Short growing season
Pro Tips
- Sheltered spot or pot
- Wrap the pot in winter
Pests and problems for Bay Tree in Cold / Highland
Harvesting Bay Tree
When ready: Pick leaves from an established plant. The flavour and smell are strongest before flowering (Garden Express).
How to harvest: Pick whole leaves or snip small sprigs, a few at a time. Pinch growing tips in the warm months to make it bushier (Gardening with Angus).
Storing and preserving bay tree
How to keep it
- Drying. Dry the leaves flat in a dark, airy place until crisp, then store whole in a jar. No Australian source read, so treat this as general practice.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Bay Tree
When do you plant bay tree in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Sep
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to May, Sep to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to May, Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Sep to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Aug to Oct
When should I plant Bay Tree in Canberra?
Evergreen Trees says it takes light to moderate frost once established, and Garden Express says frost tolerant. Gardening sources put its limit near minus 5°C, so hard highland frosts will scorch it. Plant in spring and grow it in a sheltered spot or a pot that can come under cover.
How do I know when Bay Tree are ready to harvest?
Pick leaves from an established plant. The flavour and smell are strongest before flowering (Garden Express).
What are the best Bay Tree varieties for Canberra?
Recommended varieties for the Cold / Highland zone include: Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis).
Are bay tree salt tolerant?
Only a little. Bay tree are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cold / Highland zone, Canberra is its reference city.