When to Plant Rosemary in Brisbane, Subtropical Guide
That soil figure is read off our own weather station in South East Queensland at 21:55 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 Rosemary 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 Jun, Aug to Oct
- Days to harvest
- about 13 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 100 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.5–7.5
Iconic Mediterranean evergreen shrub with intensely aromatic needle-like leaves. Extremely drought-tolerant once established. HATES wet feet and humidity. Root rot kills more rosemary in Australia than anything else.
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 P
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun P
- Jul -
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Plant cuttings or potted plants in autumn or spring, in a sunny, free-draining spot. Avoid planting in the wet summer.
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How to Grow Rosemary in Subtropical Australia
- Soil
- Well-drained, lean, slightly alkaline soil. Sandy or gravelly. Does NOT want rich soil.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.5-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun. Minimum 6 hours. More = better.
- Spacing
- 100cm apart, 120cm between rows
- Watering
- Minimal once established. Water young plants weekly until rooted. Established plants need almost no supplementary water in temperate zones. OVERWATERING KILLS ROSEMARY.
- Good companions
- Dwarf Beans, Carrot, Cabbage, Thyme, Broccoli
- Keep away from
- Basil (different water needs), Mint
Subtropical Growing Tips for Rosemary
Recommended Varieties
- Tuscan Blue
- Prostrate
- Common rosemary
Key Challenges
- Wet summers cause root rot and dieback
- Humidity reduces vigour
Pro Tips
- Raised bed with 50% sand/gravel mix
- North-facing position with maximum airflow
- Prune regularly for air circulation
Pests and problems for Rosemary in Subtropical
Harvesting Rosemary
When ready: Harvest from established plants (6+ months old). Evergreen, available year-round.
How to harvest: Snip 10-15cm stem tips. Never cut into old leafless wood, it won't regrow. Always cut above green growth.
Storing and preserving rosemary
How to keep it
- Drying (excellent). Hang bundles in dark dry place 1-2 weeks. Strip leaves from stems. Rosemary dries exceptionally well with minimal flavour loss. Keeps: 12-18 months.
- Freezing. Strip leaves, freeze in bags. Or freeze whole sprigs. Or chop and freeze in oil cubes. Keeps: 6 months.
- Rosemary salt. Blend fresh rosemary with coarse salt (1:4 ratio). Spread on tray, dry in oven at 100C for 1 hour. Crumble and store. Keeps: 6 months.
- Rosemary oil. Pack fresh sprigs into sterilised bottle. Cover with mild olive oil. Seal and store 2-4 weeks. Strain. Use for cooking. Keeps: 3 months refrigerated.
What rosemary costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
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 Rosemary
When do you plant rosemary in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Jun
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Jun, Aug to Oct
- 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 Rosemary in Brisbane?
Plant cuttings or potted plants in autumn or spring, in a sunny, free-draining spot. Avoid planting in the wet summer.
What soil temperature do Rosemary need?
Rosemary germinate best when soil temperature is between 15°C and 20°C.
How do I know when Rosemary are ready to harvest?
Harvest from established plants (6+ months old). Evergreen, available year-round.
What are the best Rosemary varieties for Brisbane?
Recommended varieties for the Subtropical zone include: Tuscan Blue, Prostrate, Common rosemary.
What grows well with Rosemary?
Good companion plants for Rosemary include: Dwarf Beans, Carrot, Cabbage, Thyme, Broccoli.
Are rosemary salt tolerant?
Only a little. Rosemary 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.