How to grow Carob in Australia
Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) is a tough, slow, evergreen Mediterranean tree grown for its long brown pods, whose sweet pulp is dried and ground as a cocoa substitute. It loves long, hot, dry summers and is very drought hardy once established, which makes it a natural fit for Adelaide, Perth and warm inland gardens. Most trees are either male or female, and only female or hermaphrodite trees bear pods.
📖 Our full guide: How to Grow Carob in Australia
At a glance
When to plant by region
| Region | When to plant | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to November | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to November | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to November | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October and November | Marginal. Plant Oct to Nov in the hottest, driest sheltered spot. Pods only ripen after a long warm summer. |
| Adelaide & SA | March and April, September and October | Plant Mar to Apr or Sep to Oct. Adelaide is ideal carob country; established trees need no summer watering. |
| Perth & WA | March and April, September and October | Plant Mar to Apr ahead of the winter rains, or Sep to Oct. Very drought tough once established. |
| Tasmania | Not suited | Unsuitable. Needs long hot dry summers, and frost kills young trees. |
| Canberra & ACT | Not suited | Not reliable. Hard Canberra frosts kill young trees and the season is too short to ripen pods. |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not reliable. Wet season humidity rots roots and spoils pod set. Carob wants a dry Mediterranean summer. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not reliable. Wet season humidity and heavy rain rot roots and spoil pod set. |
Where to plant
Plant carob in full sun in deep, well-drained soil. It tolerates poor, rocky, sandy and limy soils, though not acid ones, and needs no summer watering once established in a Mediterranean climate, but it will not tolerate waterlogging. Young trees are frost tender.
It is a big, slow, long-lived tree, so give it room. In Australia carob orchards have been planted mainly in South Australia and Western Australia.
- Adelaide and Perth: ideal carob country. Plant in March and April ahead of the winter rains, or in September and October.
- Melbourne: marginal. Plant in October or November in the hottest, driest, most sheltered spot; pods ripen only after a long, warm summer.
- Sydney, South East Queensland and the Northern Rivers: trees grow, but humid summers and wet weather make pod set unreliable.
- Canberra and Hobart: not reliable, as hard frosts kill young trees and summers are too short to ripen pods.
- North Queensland and Darwin: not reliable; wet-season humidity rots roots and spoils pod set.
Choosing a variety
- Carob trees are usually male, female or hermaphrodite (with both kinds of flower). Only female and hermaphrodite trees bear pods.
- Seedlings cannot be sexed until they flower, so buy a grafted female or hermaphrodite tree of a named variety if you can, and plant a male or hermaphrodite tree nearby for pollination.
- Clifford is a hermaphrodite variety sold in Australia, so a single tree can set pods.
How to plant
- Plant in autumn or spring, in a sunny spot with room for a wide tree.
- Dig a hole wider than the pot, plant at the same depth and water in well.
- Mulch, keeping it away from the trunk, and protect young trees from frost in their first winters.
- Water young trees regularly through their first two summers until established.
Watering and feeding
Water young trees deeply through dry spells for the first couple of years. Established trees in Adelaide and Perth need no summer watering, though a deep drink in a very dry year helps the crop. Never overwater.
Carob is a legume and needs little feeding. A little compost or a light, balanced fertiliser in spring is plenty for young trees.
Pruning and care through the year
- Prune lightly to shape young trees and to lift the canopy for access. Mature trees need little pruning.
- In orchards with mostly female trees, a branch of a male tree is sometimes grafted onto a female to provide pollen.
Harvesting
Pods take about 11 months to ripen. Harvest in late summer when they have turned dark brown and dry, before the autumn rains; knock them down onto a tarp or pick them up as they fall. Full crops come only on older trees, often around 20 years and beyond.
Dry the pods further in the sun, then store them in a dry, airtight container.
Using it
- Break dried pods, remove the hard seeds, and grind or blend the pulp into carob powder, which is sweet and used like cocoa in baking and drinks.
- Dried pods can be chewed as a sweet snack.
- The very hard seeds are the source of a gum (locust bean gum) used commercially to thicken and stabilise foods.
Pests and diseases
Carob is rarely troubled by pests or disease in hot, dry climates. Wet soil and humid weather cause most problems.
Carob is rarely troubled by pests.
Diseases to watch for
- Root rot Yellowing, wilting and dieback on trees in poorly drained or waterlogged soil.
Common questions
Do you need a male and female carob tree?
Usually. Most carob trees are either male or female, and only females bear pods, so a female needs a male tree nearby for pollination. Hermaphrodite trees carry both kinds of flower and can set pods on their own. Buying a grafted, named female or hermaphrodite tree avoids the gamble with seedlings.
How long does a carob tree take to produce pods?
Usually five to nine years, and sooner for grafted trees in good conditions. Full crops come later, often when the tree is about 20 years old.
When are carob pods ready to harvest?
In late summer, about 11 months after flowering, when the pods have turned dark brown and dry. Pick them before the autumn rains.
Where does carob grow best in Australia?
In Mediterranean climates with long, hot, dry summers, especially Adelaide, Perth and warm inland areas. It struggles where summers are humid or wet, and frost kills young trees.
How do you make carob powder from pods?
Dry the pods well, break them open and remove the hard seeds, then grind the pulp finely and sieve it.
Can carob grow in a pot?
Only while young. It becomes a large, wide tree and needs to go in the ground to grow and crop properly.
Sources we checked: WANATCA (ACOTANC): General overview of carobs in Australia; Rare Fruit Council of Australia archives: Situation of the carob tree in Australia; Morton, Fruits of Warm Climates: Carob; NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Ceratonia siliqua; Daley's Fruit Tree Nursery: Carob Clifford.