When to Plant Hyssop in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
That soil figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 22:55 yesterday, not a model.
What this month normally looks like in Subtropical
In October the Subtropical zone normally runs 27°C by day and 15°C overnight, with about 77 mm of rain over 7 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was -0.2°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 33 postcodes, SILO.
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This Hyssop guide is written for the Subtropical zone, which takes in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to May, Aug to Nov
- Days to harvest
- about 13 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Regular
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.0
Hyssop is a bushy, semi-evergreen perennial herb about 50cm tall with aromatic leaves and blue-purple flower spikes that attract bees. It needs full sun and sharp drainage, and it tolerates drought once established.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar S/D
- Apr S/T/D
- May T
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug S/D
- Sep S/T/D
- Oct S/T/D
- Nov T/D
- Dec -
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Subtropical zone right now, Hyssop included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Hyssop in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Light, sandy, well-draining dry or chalky soil
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.5-8.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun to partial shade, at least 6 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 40-45cm apart, 40cm between rows
- Watering
- Water regularly until plants are established. Once settled it copes with heat and dry spells.
- Good companions
- Lettuce, Carrot, Cabbage, Broccoli, Grape
- Keep away from
- Daikon (Listed by Gardenate as a plant to keep away from daikon.), Radish
Subtropical Growing Tips for Hyssop
Recommended Varieties
- Pink Jufa (Pink-flowered hyssop): Germinates in 10 to 15 days, harvest 90 to 120 days from sowing
- Blue Jufa (Blue-flowered hyssop): Sold by ABSeeds as a blue-flowered cultivar
Key Challenges
- Powdery Mildew: Weakens leaves and reduces the crop
- Crown and root rot: Plants collapse, usually in wet soil
- Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell
- Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables
Pro Tips
- Light feeder; apply a light compost top-dressing or organic fertiliser in early spring
- Apply a light organic or gravel mulch around the base to keep root crowns dry and suppress weeds
- Cut back woody stems by half in late autumn or early spring to maintain compact bushy growth and encourage fresh shoots
Pests and problems for Hyssop in Subtropical
- Two-spotted spider mite Watch
- Powdery Mildew Water at soil level, space plants well and avoid overhead watering. Watch
- Common Garden Snail Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell Watch
- Slugs Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables Watch
- Aphids Watch
- Crown and root rot Grow in raised beds or gritty soil and avoid overwatering. Watch
Harvesting Hyssop
When ready: Harvest young leaves and stem tips when plants reach 20 cm tall, or flowering spikes just as buds begin to open in mid-summer
How to harvest: Snip upper stem shoots using sharp scissors or secateurs
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 Hyssop
When do you plant hyssop in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jul
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to May, Aug to Nov
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan, Mar to Apr, Aug to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Mar, Aug to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Feb to Apr, Aug to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to Apr, Aug to Nov
Can you grow hyssop all year round in Brisbane?
No. In the Subtropical zone the planting months are Mar to May, Aug to Nov. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Hyssop in Brisbane?
Sow from autumn to early spring into raised beds with excellent drainage to prevent summer wet rot.
What soil temperature do Hyssop need?
Hyssop germinate best when soil temperature is between 18°C and 22°C.
How do I know when Hyssop are ready to harvest?
Harvest young leaves and stem tips when plants reach 20 cm tall, or flowering spikes just as buds begin to open in mid-summer
What are the best Hyssop varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Pink Jufa (Pink-flowered hyssop): Germinates in 10 to 15 days, harvest 90 to 120 days from sowing, Blue Jufa (Blue-flowered hyssop): Sold by ABSeeds as a blue-flowered cultivar.
What grows well with Hyssop?
Good companion plants for Hyssop include: Lettuce, Carrot, Cabbage, Broccoli, Grape.
Are hyssop salt tolerant?
Only a little. Hyssop 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 Subtropical zone, Brisbane is its reference city.