When to plant Feverfew in Subtropical Australia
Subtropical zone — applies to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Tropical · Arid.
Sow feverfew direct from August to October, scattering the fine seed and barely covering it with about 3 mm of soil. In subtropical gardens this late-winter-into-spring window lets plants establish before the summer wet, and seed germinates in 10–14 days with mild warmth. Thin or space plants 30–45 cm apart in rows about 45 cm apart, in full sun to light shade. Expect the first daisy-like flowers roughly 90–120 days after sowing. It is a short-lived perennial here, so once it is in, it will often self-seed and carry on for several seasons.
Sowing calendar — subtropical zone
Green months are your sowing window: August to October.
Growing notes
Feverfew is tough and pest-resistant — its own aromatic foliage keeps most insects away — but subtropical humidity is where it struggles. Around the Sunshine Coast and Lismore, crowded plants develop powdery mildew and stem rot through the wet, so spacing and drainage matter more than feeding.
Give it a sunny, free-draining spot. It tolerates poor soil and actually flowers better without heavy nitrogen; rich beds give leggy, soft growth that flops in storms.
The main failure mode here is rot in a wet summer. To manage it:
- Space at the wider end, 45 cm, so air moves between plants.
- Water at the base early in the day.
- Cut plants back hard after the first flush to open them up and trigger fresh growth.
Feverfew self-seeds enthusiastically, which is a bonus in a climate where individual plants tire quickly. Let a few flower heads mature and drop, then thin the seedlings. If clumps get woody after a couple of years, pull them and let the volunteers take over.
Feverfew at a glance
| Sowing depth | 3 mm |
|---|---|
| Plant spacing | 30-45 cm |
| Row spacing | 45 cm |
| Germination | 10-14 days |
| Days to maturity | 90-120 days |
| Frost tolerance | Hardy |
| Method | Raise Seedlings,Sow Direct |
Common questions
- When do you plant feverfew in the subtropics?
- Sow direct from August to October, as the coldest weather passes but before the summer wet. This gives plants time to establish and flower in the milder part of the year, roughly 90–120 days after sowing.
- Does feverfew survive humid summers on the Sunshine Coast?
- It can, but humidity is its weak point. Space plants 30–45 cm apart, keep them in full sun with good drainage, and cut them back after flowering. Expect to rely on self-sown seedlings to replace plants that tire in the wet.
- How deep should I sow feverfew seed?
- Barely cover it, about 3 mm deep. The seed is fine and needs light to germinate well, so a shallow sowing into firmed, moist soil works best. Seedlings appear in 10–14 days.
- Does feverfew come back every year?
- It is a short-lived perennial that also self-seeds freely. Individual plants may only last a season or two in subtropical humidity, but volunteers usually keep a patch going once it is established.
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