Climate Zones for Australian Gardeners

Knowing your climate zone will help you decide the best time to sow the vegetables, herbs and flowers you want to grow, and which varieties should perform well in your garden. Growing plants that are suited to your climate zone will usually give you the best results in your garden.

How to Use Climate Zones

First, find your climate zone using the map or descriptions below. Next, refer to our sowing chart, which provides approximate sowing times for our most popular seeds for each climate zone.

While knowing your climate zone is helpful when planning your garden, there are many other factors that may affect how your plants grow, including unseasonal weather conditions, the specific microclimate of your garden and how you care for your plants. You know your garden better than us, so if a different climate zone seems to ‘fit’ your garden better, go ahead and use it as a guide.

Our climate zones cover huge areas of Australia, so we recommend gardeners also consider their local conditions when planning what and when to plant. For example, gardeners in alpine areas have shorter growing seasons than gardeners in cool coastal areas, even though both alpine and coastal areas are included in our ‘Cool Temperate’ climate zone. We recommend gardeners in cool regions look at the ‘days to maturity’ information provided for each variety and choose those that will mature in a short (6-12 week) growing season.

climate map

Tropical

Includes: Darwin, Cairns, Townsville, Exmouth
High humidity summers with most rainfall in summer and dry, warm winters. Includes northern Australia from Exmouth (WA) across to south of Townsville (Qld).
Set as my climate My climate

Arid

Includes: Alice Springs, Mildura, Albury-Wodonga, Shepparton, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo
Hot dry summers, winters can be warm or cool depending on the region. Includes a large area of central Australia from the WA coast to Charleville (Qld), Tamworth (NSW) and Albury-Wodonga (NSW/Vic).
Set as my climate My climate

Subtropical

Includes: Brisbane, Bundaberg, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast
Warm humid summers with high summer rainfall and mild winters. Includes coastal Queensland and northern NSW from north of Mackay to just south of Coffs Harbour.
Set as my climate My climate

Temperate

Includes: Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Newcastle, Toowoomba, Central Coast NSW, Wollongong, Bunbury
Moderate humidity and reliable rainfall, with four distinct seasons. Includes coastal areas from north of Port Macquarie to south of Woollongong in NSW, coastal SA and the southeastern coast of WA.
Set as my climate My climate

Cool Temperate

Includes: Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart, Launceston, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mt Gambier
Low humidity with most rainfall in winter; hot dry summers and cold winters. Some regions will experience frosts and snow. Includes coastal areas of south-eastern Australia and alpine areas of Victoria, NSW and Tasmania.
Set as my climate My climate

Climate Zones FAQ

What if I can’t find my climate zone?
If you can’t locate your zone from looking at the map or the descriptions on this page, we suggest that you think of an area that has a climate that’s similar to yours and use the zone for that area as a guide.

What if I live on the border of two zones?
If you live near the border between two zones we suggest you read the descriptions for both zones and decide which best describes the climate where you live. Depending on the microclimate in your garden, you may be able to grow a wider range of plants over a longer season than others in your zone. Lucky you!

What is a microclimate?
A microclimate is a small area where the temperature or humidity differs to the climate of the surrounding area. For example, if you live in a climate zone where frosts are common but your garden is protected by buildings or large trees, your garden may be frost-free. Similarly, if you live in a warm temperate zone but your garden is at a high altitude your microclimate may have more in common with the cool temperate zone, so use this as a guide when deciding which zone is relevant to you.

Can I grow varieties not listed for my climate zone?
While our climate zones and sowing chart will help you decide what is suitable to plant in your garden, they provide general guidance only. We recommend you start by sowing seed that’s recommended for your climate zone; once you get a few successes under your belt you can experiment with varieties in neighbouring zones and see how you go – gardening is all about experimenting after all!

How to Grow Peony Herbaceous

Grow Guide #3010
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This 'How to Grow' guide details everything a home gardener needs to know to plant, grow and care for ( ).

What are Herbaceous Peonies?

Herbaceous peonies are cultivars of the peony, Paeonia lactiflora, which originates from China. They are hardy long-lived bushy perennials that can live between 50-70 years, and they produce large opulent flowers in a range of forms and colours. Some varieties are scented and they make good cut flowers.

They have a large fleshy root system that forms a crown of buds which is dormant during winter. In spring, the buds sprout to form a large leafy bush and flowers usually appear in late spring and early summer. Flower colour ranges from purple, pink and red, to yellow and white.

Herbaceous peonies are only available seasonally as they are dug up during their winter dormancy. They are supplied as tuberous roots that have a few buds or eyes, and the roots are packed in moist coir to prevent them from drying out during shipping.

When to Plant Herbaceous Peonies

Plant herbaceous peony tuberous roots as soon as you receive them. They are best planted in winter (June, July, August) as they like to set some roots down into the soil before spring growth begins.

Use the table below to identify the best time of year to plant herbacous peony tuberous roots in your climate.

	JAN	FEB	MAR	APR	MAY	JUN	JUL	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Cool
Temperate
Sub-Tropical
Tropical
Arid

Preparation

plants are perennial, meaning they live for several years. Choose a permanent position where plants can grow undisturbed by regular digging.

Herbaceous Peony plants do best in cool to temperate climates, as they need cold winters to set buds and flower well. Choose a sunny position with rich, well-drained soil.

plants grow best in soil that is alkaline. If soil pH is under 7, apply dolomite (calcium magnesium carbonate) or garden lime (calcium carbonate) in powder or liquid form at the recommended rate and water in well prior to planting. Lime increases the alkalinity (or pH) of soil, making nutrients more available to some plants. Learn more about preparing soil for planting here.

How to Plant Herbaceous Peonies

Dig a generous but shallow hole and firm the base of the hole. Spread smaller roots out and position the tuberous root with buds or ‘eyes’ facing upwards. Ensure the buds are no more than 2.5-3cm below the surface of the soil. Backfill with soil, taking care not to push the root any deeper.

Avoid planting too deep as they won’t flower well. Water thoroughly. Peonies need to feel the cold, so avoid mulching close to the crown as this acts like a blanket and can also harbour disease. Allow at least 60cm between plants to give them space to grow.

How to Grow

Peonies prefer a neutral soil and will benefit from regular applications of lime to keep the soil in their preferred pH range. Spreading lime towards the end of flowering helps root development and flowering the following year.

Provide protection from strong winds and stake plants to provide support for the large flowers if necessary.

Good air circulation around plants is beneficial as it helps prevent disease. Avoid placing mulch over the crown as this can increase the chance of a fungal disease occurring.

In autumn, the foliage will start to change colour and die back. When this happens, remove the whole bush by cutting it down to just above the ground. You can top dress the soil around the plant with compost or a complete fertiliser and lime, but avoid covering the crown. Fertilise again in early spring.

Newly planted peonies are unlikely to produce any flowers in their first growing season while they are getting established. They may only produce a small number of flowers in their second year, but from the third year onwards, they should start putting on a good show.

Peonies make good cut flowers. They are best picked when the buds are no longer hard but can be squashed when pressed gently. Cut the stems, leaving two sets of leaves on the plant, which will help the plant continue to grow.

Common Problems when Growing

Like all plants, is susceptible to some pests, diseases and other problems. Below is a list of the most common problems gardeners encounter when growing plants:

Grey mould (Botrytis sp.) is a fungal disease that causes flowers to become mouldy and fruit to rot. Spores are transported by wind and can survive in soil or on green waste. The fungus spreads most in cool, damp weather. Prune off affected flowers and fruit, water plants at soil level (not on leaves) and if necessary spray with an appropriate fungicide or homemade spray.
Powdery mildew is caused by fungal spores reproducing on the leaves of plants. First showing as white spots on leaves, affected areas can spread quickly to cover the entire leaf surface. While rarely fatal, powdery mildew can reduce yields. Water plants at soil level (not on leaves) to prevent spreading spores, allow good air flow between plants, remove affected leaves and if necessary spray with an appropriate fungicide or homemade spray. Read more here about powdery mildew here.