When to Plant Pandan 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 Pandan 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
- Sep to Dec
- Days to harvest
- about 52 weeks
- Sun
- Part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 100 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.6–7.3
Pandan is a tropical clumping plant 1 to 2 metres tall with long strap leaves that give South East Asian rice, sweets and drinks their vanilla like scent (Daleys).
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 -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec P
P = Planting window
Plant a rooted pup or potted plant from September to December, before or at the start of the wet season. Daleys lists pandan as tropical, growing in part sun with moderate water, and reviewers in Mackay and Derby report it thriving; it grows wild around Darwin. Harvest leaves from February to December. Months are our estimate; no source gives planting months.
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How to Grow Pandan in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Free draining potting mix or loam with compost; it must drain (Daleys).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.6-7.3
- Sunlight
- Part sun, 50 to 80 per cent (Daleys); warm part sun (BAAG).
- Spacing
- 100cm apart, 100cm between rows
- Watering
- Moderate water in the warm months, dry in winter (Daleys, BAAG).
Tropical Growing Tips for Pandan
Recommended Varieties
- Pandanus amaryllifolius (Daleys)
Key Challenges
- Grasshoppers
- Mealybugs
Pro Tips
- Keep it dry in winter (BAAG, Daleys).
- Cut a few leaves at a time from the base (Daleys forum).
- Use a 35 litre pot or larger (Daleys).
Pests and problems for Pandan in Tropical
Harvesting Pandan
When ready: Leaves 30 cm or longer on an established clump; harvest in the first year (Daleys).
How to harvest: Cut a few outer leaves at a time at the base, leaving the centre to grow (Daleys forum).
Storing and preserving pandan
How to keep it
- Freezing. Tie leaves in knots, bag and freeze; or blend to a paste and freeze in ice cube trays. Keeps: 6 months.
- Fresh in the fridge. Wrap in a damp cloth in a bag. Keeps: About a week.
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 Pandan
When do you plant pandan in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Sep to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Oct to Nov
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Sep to Oct
- Mediterranean (Perth): Oct to Nov
When should I plant Pandan in Cairns?
Plant a rooted pup or potted plant from September to December, before or at the start of the wet season. Daleys lists pandan as tropical, growing in part sun with moderate water, and reviewers in Mackay and Derby report it thriving; it grows wild around Darwin. Harvest leaves from February to December. Months are our estimate; no source gives planting months.
How do I know when Pandan are ready to harvest?
Leaves 30 cm or longer on an established clump; harvest in the first year (Daleys).
What are the best Pandan varieties for Cairns?
Recommended varieties for the Tropical zone include: Pandanus amaryllifolius (Daleys).
Are pandan salt tolerant?
Only a little. Pandan 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.