When to plant Lavender in Subtropical Australia

Subtropical zone — applies to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Coffs Harbour, Lismore and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Temperate · Cool · Tropical · Arid.

Lavender is best raised from seed in spring — September through November — sown into trays or pots and transplanted out once the seedlings are sturdy. It is the trickiest of subtropical herbs to keep alive, because it is a Mediterranean plant that wants dry heat and hates the humidity that defines a Brisbane summer. Germination is slow and uneven at 18 to 28 days, and it is a perennial, so allow around a full year before a plant is properly established and flowering. Choose English lavender for the best chance and, above all, plant it high, dry and in full sun, because wet feet in the wet season will kill it faster than anything.

Sowing calendar — subtropical zone

Green months are your sowing window: September to November.

Growing notes

Lavender and the subtropics are a difficult marriage, and success comes down to defeating humidity and soil moisture. Raise seedlings in spring and, once transplanted, give plants the driest, sunniest, most freely draining position you have — a raised bed, a mound, a pot on gravel, or a slope near Coffs Harbour where water runs away fast. Heavy, wet coastal soil is a death sentence, so dig in coarse sand or grit and never mulch right up to the stem.

The humid subtropical summer is the danger period. Warm, wet air sitting in dense foliage brings root rot and fungal dieback, which is why airflow matters as much as drainage. Space plants 50 to 70cm apart, prune after flowering to keep the bush open, and water sparingly and only at the base — established lavender prefers to dry out between drinks.

• Full sun and the sharpest drainage you can manage
• Raised beds, mounds or pots, never a wet hollow
• Space widely and prune for open airflow
• Water rarely; let the soil dry between waterings

The usual outcome of failure is a plant that yellows, wilts and collapses in mid-summer, almost always root rot from wet feet. The fix is prevention: get the drainage right before you plant, and in the worst of the wet season a potted plant that can be moved under cover will always outlast one stuck in sodden ground.

Lavender at a glance

Common questions

Can lavender survive the subtropical climate?

It can, but it is challenging because lavender hates humidity and wet soil. Choose English lavender, plant it in full sun with very sharp drainage, and it has a reasonable chance.

When should I sow lavender seed?

Sow in spring, from September to November, raising seedlings in trays before transplanting. Germination is slow, taking 18 to 28 days.

Why did my lavender die over summer?

Almost always root rot from humidity and wet soil during the wet season. Grow it in a raised bed, mound or pot with gritty free-draining soil and water sparingly.

How long before lavender establishes?

Being a perennial, allow around a year for a plant to establish and flower well. Prune after each flowering to keep the bush open and healthy.

Keep exploring