When to plant Thyme 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 thyme direct in July, and again from September through November, in the subtropical zone — 3 mm deep, germinating in 7–14 days and reaching a usable size in around 90 days. The July sowing is worth taking seriously: it gives plants the longest possible run of dry, mild weather to establish before the summer wet, which is the real test of thyme from Brisbane down to Coffs Harbour. Space plants about 30 cm apart in full sun, in the leanest, fastest-draining spot you have. Thyme is hardy — humidity, not cold, is what kills it in this zone.

Sowing calendar — subtropical zone

Green months are your sowing window: July and September to November.

Growing notes

Thyme grows here in the mirror image of its Mediterranean rhythm: the dry, sunny winter is its productive season, and the December–February wet is survival mode. The characteristic failure is a bush that browns from the centre outwards in late summer — stems rotting at soil level in still, muggy air — and by the time it shows, that section is already gone.

Stack the odds beforehand. Plant into a raised bed, a slope or a pot with sharp drainage, mulch with gravel rather than anything organic, and resist improving the soil — rich, moist ground grows soft foliage that rots first. On the humid coast around the Gold Coast, an open position with genuine airflow matters as much as sun, and shearing the bush lightly after flowering keeps the interior open and dry. Water only when the soil has properly dried out.

On timing, the July sowing establishes through the easiest months and meets its first wet season as a mature plant; September to November sowings catch up quickly with germination at 7–14 days, but face the storms younger. Either way, treat thyme as a short-lived plant in this climate — resow or replace every couple of years rather than mourning an old bush that finally succumbs to a wet February.

Thyme at a glance

Common questions

When do I sow thyme in the subtropical zone?

Sow direct in July, or from September through November. The July sowing gives plants the longest stretch of dry weather to establish before the summer wet season.

Why is my thyme dying in the middle of the bush?

Centre dieback in late summer is stem and root rot from humidity and wet soil. Grow thyme in raised beds or pots with sharp drainage, mulch with gravel instead of organic matter, and give it real airflow.

How long does thyme take to grow from seed?

Seed germinates in 7–14 days and plants reach a usable size in about 90 days.

Can thyme survive a Brisbane summer?

Yes, but only with sharp drainage, gravel mulch, full sun and good airflow — the humid wet season is what kills thyme here, not the heat itself. Even then, treat it as short-lived and resow every couple of years.

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