When to Plant Bay Tree in Cairns, Tropical Guide
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Bay Tree guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane 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
- 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 Tropical
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar -
- Apr P
- May P
- Jun P
- Jul P
- Aug P
- Sep P
- Oct -
- Nov -
- Dec -
P = Planting window
Garden Express lists its climate as cool to mild tropical. It dislikes wet feet, so plant in the dry season on a mound or in a large pot with good drainage. Humidity and wet season root rot are the risk. No tropical specific source.
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How to Grow Bay Tree in Tropical 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).
Tropical Growing Tips for Bay Tree
Recommended Varieties
- Bay laurel (Laurus nobilis)
Key Challenges
- Humidity
- Wet season root rot
Pro Tips
- Large pot with very free draining mix
- Dry season planting
Pests and problems for Bay Tree in Tropical
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 Cairns?
Garden Express lists its climate as cool to mild tropical. It dislikes wet feet, so plant in the dry season on a mound or in a large pot with good drainage. Humidity and wet season root rot are the risk. No tropical specific source.
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 Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.