Curry Plant Growing Guide
Curry Plant At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Tender
Cold Hardiness
Survives to -9°C
Plant Family
Asteraceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Perennial
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Take semi-ripe cuttings in summer and root them in free-draining mix — quick and reliable.
The 'curry plant' (Helichrysum italicum) is a silvery aromatic shrub that smells of curry. It's not the source of curry powder and is used only lightly, if at all, in cooking. Mostly grown for scent and its drought-tough silver foliage.
When To Start
Curry Plant needs warmth. Wait until your last frost has passed and the soil has warmed before sowing.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Curry Plant?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Curry Plant Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Curry Plant Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Plant curry plant out (frost tender)
2 weeks after your last frost
Shear curry plant after flowering
90 days after your last frost· every year
Shelter curry plant from hard frost (cold zones)
3 weeks before your first frost· every year· optional
The Journey Ahead
Curry Plant's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Growing Tips
- 1Give it full sun and sharp drainage and it'll thrive on drought.
- 2It's tender below about zone 8, so grow it in a pot and shelter it over winter.
- 3Shear it after flowering to keep it compact.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
60 cm
Mature Height
60 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
When to Pick
Snip sprigs for scent/garnish; remove a sprig late in cooking
How to Harvest
- 1Cut small silvery sprigs as needed.
- 2If using in food, add a sprig briefly and remove it before serving: the flavour is strong and the leaves aren't eaten.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
Seed Production
Ready to grow this?
Grow curry plant with us.
This page is free and stays free. An account adds the one thing a guide cannot do on its own: your own frost dates, so it tells you the weeks to sow curry plant where you live.
