When to Plant Davidson Plum 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 Davidson Plum 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
- Nov to Mar
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
The Davidson plum is an Australian rainforest tree with deep purple, very sour fruit. It makes strong jam, sauce and sorbet. It likes part shade, moist fertile soil with good drainage, and shelter from hot sun and wind.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Tropical
- Jan P
- Feb P
- Mar P
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep -
- Oct -
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
The northern form, Davidsonia pruriens, grows wild in rainforest north to Cooktown and fruits in summer, January to February (RFC Archives). Plant at the start of the wet season in part shade. Fruit months are our reading of the RFC summer fruiting.
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How to Grow Davidson Plum in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Moist, fertile, well drained soil. Tolerates poorer soil (Gardening with Angus). Well drained soil is essential (RFC Archives).
- Salt
- Sensitive. Struggles with salty bore water or salty soil. Give it rainwater if you can.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Part sun to shade (Daleys says 0 to 80 percent sun). Full sun to semi shade is preferred (RFC Archives). Protect young plants from hot sun and drying wind.
- Keep away from
- Hot exposed sites, Heavy waterlogged clay
Tropical Growing Tips for Davidson Plum
Recommended Varieties
- D. jerseyana (southern, NSW)
- D. pruriens (northern, Qld)
- D. johnsonii (smooth, endangered in the wild)
Key Challenges
- Heat stress for young trees
- Wet season rots
Pro Tips
- Part shade
- Mound the soil
Pests and problems for Davidson Plum in Tropical
Harvesting Davidson Plum
When ready: Fruit drops from the tree when ripe (Gardening with Angus).
How to harvest: Collect fallen fruit.
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 Davidson Plum
When do you plant davidson plum in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Mar, Nov to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Mar to Apr, Sep to Oct
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Mar to Apr, Oct
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Oct to Nov
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): not recommended
- Mediterranean (Perth): Mar to May, Oct
When should I plant Davidson Plum in Cairns?
The northern form, Davidsonia pruriens, grows wild in rainforest north to Cooktown and fruits in summer, January to February (RFC Archives). Plant at the start of the wet season in part shade. Fruit months are our reading of the RFC summer fruiting.
How do I know when Davidson Plum are ready to harvest?
Fruit drops from the tree when ripe (Gardening with Angus).
What are the best Davidson Plum varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: D. jerseyana (southern, NSW), D. pruriens (northern, Qld), D. johnsonii (smooth, endangered in the wild).
Are davidson plum salt tolerant?
No. Davidson plum 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 Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.