When to Plant Lychee in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
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 Lychee 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
- Apr to Sep
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Lychee is a slow growing evergreen tree grown for its sweet, juicy fruit with a rough red skin. It wants a frost free site, shelter from wind and regular water.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Subtropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Cairns to Lismore is the Bunnings range, and Daleys says it crops heavily and regularly in the subtropics. Potted trees can go in year round except in the height of summer, bare root in late autumn or winter (Love The Garden). Fruit November to March (Love The Garden), February to April for Wai Chee. Needs winter lows of about 15°C or less to flower (RFC).
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How to Grow Lychee in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Deep, free draining soil enriched with compost or decomposed manure (Bunnings). Slightly acidic soil (Love The Garden).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Full sun, sheltered from strong winds (Love The Garden). Young trees do better in part shade and shade cloth at first (Bunnings).
- Keep away from
- Frost pockets, Windy exposed spots
Subtropical Growing Tips for Lychee
Recommended Varieties
- Wai Chee (semi dwarf, self pollinating, Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Wet or windy weather during flowering
- Bats
- Fruit fly
Pro Tips
- Shelter from wind
- Mulch and water steadily
- Net before colour
Pests and problems for Lychee in Subtropical
Harvesting Lychee
When ready: Harvest when the skin is fully red or pink. Fruit does not ripen after picking (Love The Garden).
How to harvest: Pick whole clusters in the morning (Love The Garden).
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 Lychee
When do you plant lychee in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Sep
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Apr to Sep
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Sep to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): not recommended
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Nov
When should I plant Lychee in Brisbane?
Cairns to Lismore is the Bunnings range, and Daleys says it crops heavily and regularly in the subtropics. Potted trees can go in year round except in the height of summer, bare root in late autumn or winter (Love The Garden). Fruit November to March (Love The Garden), February to April for Wai Chee. Needs winter lows of about 15°C or less to flower (RFC).
How do I know when Lychee are ready to harvest?
Harvest when the skin is fully red or pink. Fruit does not ripen after picking (Love The Garden).
What are the best Lychee varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Wai Chee (semi dwarf, self pollinating, Daleys).
Are lychee salt tolerant?
No. Lychee are salt-sensitive, one of the more sensitive veggies. Use rainwater if your bore water is salty, or grow them in a raised bed of fresh mix if your soil is.
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.