When to Plant Rosemary in Cairns, Tropical Guide

Sow May to June. Right now in September it is out of season. The next sowing month is May.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Rosemary 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.

Rosemary

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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. Forms a woody shrub 1-1.5m tall. Long-lived (10+ years) in suitable conditions. Upright and prostrate forms available.

Planting Calendar for Tropical

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - D D - - - - - -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Rosemary sowing time in Cairns?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Tropical zone right now, Rosemary included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 21.4°C (optimal range: 15–20°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Rosemary in Tropical Australia

When to Plant

Plant in dry season (May-Sep). Marginal zone for rosemary.

Soil
Well-drained, lean, slightly alkaline soil. Sandy or gravelly. Does NOT want rich soil.
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.

Companion plants: Sage, Thyme, Lavender, Beans, Cabbage, Carrot

Avoid planting near: Mint, Basil (different water needs)

Tropical Growing Tips for Rosemary

Recommended Varieties

  • Tuscan Blue (upright, vigorous)
  • Prostrate rosemary (slightly more humidity tolerant)

Key Challenges

  • Root rot from humidity and wet
  • Dieback in wet season
  • Poor drainage is fatal

Pro Tips

  • Terracotta pot with very sandy/gritty mix is the ONLY reliable option
  • Elevate pot for drainage
  • Move under cover during wet season

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.

Where to next

What rosemary costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the tropical zone this September: Lemongrass, Ginger, Cucumber and Basil.

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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:

Does rosemary grow all year round in Cairns?

No. In the Tropical zone the planting months are May to Jun. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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.