How to grow Bunya Nut in Australia
The bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii) is a giant, long-lived native conifer from south-east Queensland, with a dome-shaped crown and football-sized cones full of large, edible nuts. The nuts were a major food for Aboriginal people of the region, who gathered for great bunya feasts in heavy cone years. It is a tree for big gardens and parks only, because the cones that fall from it are very heavy.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Bunya Nut in Australia
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | 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 |
Where to plant
Plant a bunya pine in full sun in deep soil with good drainage. It adapts to loams, sandy loams and clay loams but will not tolerate prolonged waterlogging. Choose the site with great care: the tree becomes enormous, and the female cones are football-sized and weigh up to about 10 kg. Do not plant it within 10 m of a house, shed, path, play area, seating or parking.
Although it comes from subtropical Queensland, it is hardy well beyond its home range, including in cool parts of Victoria, and tolerates light frost once established.
- South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: its natural region and the best place to grow it.
- Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth: grows well as a large park or rural tree.
- Canberra: marginal. Plant a young tree in November after the last frost and protect it on frosty nights for the first few winters.
- Hobart: a curiosity in mild coastal gardens; trees survive but take decades to cone.
- North Queensland: small natural populations occur at Mt Lewis and Cunnabullen Falls in the uplands.
How to plant
- Bunya pines grow readily from fresh seed. Sow fallen nuts soon after they drop, in deep pots, and be patient, as the shoot can be slow to appear.
- Plant young trees out while still small, as they dislike root disturbance once large.
- Dig a hole wider than the pot, plant at the same depth, water in and mulch.
- Water young trees through dry spells for the first couple of years.
Watering and feeding
Water young trees regularly in dry weather until they are established; after that the tree is hardy and needs little care. It needs little feeding, and no regular pruning.
Pruning and care through the year
- Keep the area under the canopy clear of anything people use, and put up a warning sign in cone season if the public could walk underneath.
- Collect fallen cones promptly in summer and early autumn.
- Male cones, about 20 cm long, fall in autumn and are lighter but can still hurt if they drop from the top of a large tree.
Harvesting
Female cones mature from summer into early autumn, and heavy crops come about every two to three years. Wait for cones to fall rather than climbing for them. Each cone breaks apart into 50 to 100 large nuts.
Use the nuts fresh, as they germinate readily once they have fallen.
Using it
- Boil the nuts in their shells or roast them, which splits the tough shell, then eat the starchy kernel. Raw kernels are edible too.
- Cooked kernels can be ground into a flour or paste, or added to soups, stews and baking.
- Bunya nuts have deep cultural significance for Aboriginal peoples of south-east Queensland. If you gather nuts from trees on country, respect local custodians.
Varieties
- Bunya Pine
Companion planting
A bunya pine grows so large that it is best planted as a stand-alone tree with low native plantings around it, kept clear of paths.
Good companions
- Native plants Low native groundcovers and shrubs suit the space under the canopy, where people should not linger in cone season.
Pests and diseases
Bunya pines are tough and long lived, and are rarely troubled by pests or disease in gardens. Poor drainage is the main risk for young trees.
Bunya Nut is rarely troubled by pests.
Diseases to watch for
- Root rot Young trees yellow and die back in waterlogged soil. Plant in free-draining ground.
Common questions
Are bunya pine cones dangerous?
Yes. The female cones are about the size of a football and weigh up to about 10 kg, and they fall from a great height. Never plant a bunya pine within about 10 m of buildings, paths, play areas or parking, and keep people away from under the tree in cone season.
How do you cook bunya nuts?
Boil them in their shells or roast them in a fire or oven, which helps split the tough shell, then take out the kernel. Cooked kernels can be eaten as they are, ground into flour or added to cooking.
When do bunya pines drop their cones?
Female cones mature from summer into early autumn, with many falling in January. Heavy crops come about every two to three years, with lighter crops in between.
How long does a bunya pine take to produce cones?
Many years. Trees grown from seed usually take well over a decade, and in cool climates they can take decades.
How do you grow a bunya pine from seed?
Sow fresh nuts soon after they fall, in a deep pot; fresh seed germinates readily, though the shoot can be slow to appear. Plant the young tree out while it is still small.
Can you grow a bunya pine in a small garden?
No. It grows into a very large tree and drops heavy cones, so it needs a big rural block or park, at least 10 m from anything people use.
Sources we checked: Australian Native Plants Society (Australia): Araucaria bidwillii; Gardening with Angus: Araucaria bidwillii, bunya pine; Currency Creek Arboretum: Bunya pine cones hazard; SBS Food: Giant bunya nuts, a key Indigenous food.