When to plant Feverfew in Temperate Australia
Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.
Sow feverfew direct from September to November as the soil warms after the temperate frost date, scattering the fine seed and barely covering it at 3 mm. Germination is reasonably quick at 10 to 14 days, and plants run to their daisy-like flowers over 90 to 120 days. Thin or space seedlings 30 to 45 cm apart with rows about 45 cm wide so each clump has room to bush out. Hardy and forgiving, feverfew settles happily into border edges and herb beds around Melbourne, Adelaide and Newcastle, and once established it will self-seed and return year after year with little help from you.
Sowing calendar — temperate zone
Green months are your sowing window: September to November.
Growing notes
Feverfew is one of the easier herbs to establish in a temperate garden. It wants full sun to light shade and ordinary, free-draining soil, and it tolerates dry spells once its roots are down. Overwatering and rich, heavily fed soil are more of a risk than neglect — soft, lush growth flops open and is prone to fungal problems.
The main failure mode here is powdery mildew and rot in a humid, still summer, particularly in sheltered coastal gardens near Sydney. Crowded plants that never dry out show it first. Space plants properly at 30 to 45 cm, keep the centre of each clump open, and water at the base in the morning rather than over the foliage. Cut plants back hard after the first flush of flowers to freshen them and reduce disease.
Be aware feverfew self-seeds enthusiastically. That is a bonus if you want a permanent patch, but deadhead before the seed heads dry if you would rather keep it in one place. Handle the foliage with gloves if you have sensitive skin, as the sap can irritate.
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 should I plant feverfew in Melbourne
- Sow direct from September to November once the soil has warmed after the last frost. The seed germinates in 10 to 14 days and plants flower within 90 to 120 days, so a spring sowing gives blooms through summer.
- does feverfew come back every year
- Yes, it is hardy and short-lived perennial that also self-seeds freely, so a patch will return year after year. If you do not want it spreading, deadhead the spent flowers before the seed heads dry.
- why is my feverfew getting powdery mildew
- Crowded, damp plants in still, humid coastal weather are the usual cause. Space plants 30 to 45 cm apart, keep the clump centres open, water at the base in the morning, and cut plants back hard after the first flush to freshen them.
- how far apart should feverfew be planted
- Space plants 30 to 45 cm apart with rows around 45 cm. That spacing lets each clump bush out and dry between waterings, which keeps fungal disease down.
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