How to Grow Kakadu Plum
Terminalia ferdinandiana
Kakadu plum is a small Australian savannah tree producing tiny fruits with an extraordinary vitamin C content. In temperate climates it must be grown under glass in a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory. Plant in free-draining sandy loam, provide full sun and monthly feeding during the growing season, and reduce watering significantly over winter when the tree naturally becomes semi-dormant. Fruit is sour and best picked when pale yellow-green; use quickly or freeze.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring through late summer. Reduce to once every six to eight weeks in autumn. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds that encourage soft growth at the expense of fruiting.
Watch For
- Scale insects
- Mealybug
- Red spider mite
- Root rot from overwatering
- Sooty mould
Care Requirements
Light
Full sun; minimum 6 hours direct light daily
Kakadu plum requires full sun to flower and fruit well. Under glass, position in the brightest available spot. Supplementary lighting in winter can help maintain growth in low-light northern climates.
Watering
Moderate; allow soil to partially dry between waterings
Water regularly during the growing season but allow the top few centimetres of soil to dry out between waterings. Reduce significantly in autumn and winter to replicate the dry season. Never let the tree sit in waterlogged soil.
Fertilizing
Monthly balanced feed spring to late summer
Apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly from spring through late summer. Reduce frequency in autumn. Avoid high-nitrogen formulations that promote leafy growth over fruiting.
Pruning
Light shaping prune after harvest
Prune lightly after harvest to maintain a manageable shape under glass. Remove dead, damaged, or crossing branches. The tree responds well to light pruning and can be kept compact in a large container.
Spacing
6 m apart at maturity; suitable for large containers under glass
In the ground allow 6 m between trees. Under glass in containers, restrict roots to control size; repot every 2-3 years into slightly larger pots with fresh free-draining compost.
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 600 cm |
| Row spacing | 800 cm |
| Mature height | 600 cm |
| Mature spread | 400 cm |
Small to medium deciduous tropical tree native to northern Australian savannah woodlands. Frost-tender; in temperate climates must be grown under glass in a heated greenhouse or large conservatory. Drought-tolerant once established.
