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.
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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!

Grilling spent sunflower heads is a unique way to use those large, end of season blooms. Think of it like a cross between sweet corn and a tender artichoke heart, with a mexican street corn flavour. It’s a fun, low fuss way to use those giant heads before the birds get to them.

The trick is all in the timing. Catch them at the "milk stage," when the petals are just starting to wilt but the seeds inside are still soft, white, and creamy and their shells haven't hardened yet.

What you will need

Spent Sunflower Heads: Freshly harvested, approximately 15–20cm in diameter with petals removed. Best eaten at the “milk stage” before the shells have hardened
Seasoning: Olive oil, paprika, cumin, onion, chilli, parsley, fresh grated garlic, salt and pepper
Mexican Inspired Sauce: Whole egg mayonnaise and the same seasonings listed above
Toppings: Fresh lime and coriander (feta optional)

How to Grill Sunflower Heads

Step 1- Prepare the Head: Start by removing all of the yellow petals from the edge of the sunflower. Rub your hand firmly over the "face" of the sunflower to remove any bits of pollen/florets (the fuzzy bits) until the creamy, white, immature seeds are exposed. Trim the stem so the head can sit flat.

Step 2- Season Generously: Brush the face of the sunflower head with plenty of the olive oil spice blend then sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper. These spices will toast against the grill, creating a delicious layer of flavour.

Step 3- Grilling: Pre-heat your grill or BBQ to a medium-high heat. Place the sunflower head face down directly onto the grates. After 5 minutesd, cover with a lid or a large metal bowl to trap the heat. Grill for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until the face has turned a nice brown with char marks and the seeds have softened.

Step 4- Final Flavour: Remove from the heat once the head is lightly charred and the back is light brown and soft. While the head is still hot, cover the entire face with the spice infused mayonnaise and top with fresh lime and coriander, feta a delicious option. Grab a fork and enjoy! Important: Remeber not swallow the shells if your sunflower is a little older and the shells have started to harden.

Wilting sunflower Wilted sunflower head ready to pick