How to grow Bunya Nut in Australia
Plant a bunya pine in full sun in deep, free-drained soil with plenty of space, as it becomes a very large long-lived tree. Water young trees through dry spells until established, after which it is hardy.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 8 litres a week, watered every 4 days
- Spacing: 1500 cm
- Time to harvest: 5110 days (about 14 years)
- Time to germinate: 30 days
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | January to March | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | January to March | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | January to March | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | January to March | |
| Adelaide & SA | January to March | |
| Perth & WA | January to March | |
| Tasmania | September to November | Marginal curiosity. Trees survive mild coastal Tasmania but take decades to cone. Plant Sep to Nov with plenty of space. |
| Canberra & ACT | November | Marginal. Plant a young tree in November after the last frost and cover it on frost nights for the first winters. Sow fresh nuts in deep pots under cover when they fall in late summer. |
| North Queensland | January to March | |
| Darwin & Top End | January to March |
Varieties
- Bunya Pine
Companion planting
Good companions
- Native plants
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Gather the heavy cones after they fall to the ground, then break them open to release the large nuts. Collect promptly as fallen cones spoil quickly.
Storage
Fresh nuts fridge for 2 weeks. Roasted and frozen for months. Dried flour stores well.