Craspedia (Drumstick Flower) in Zone 10a & 10b

Craspedia globosa

Yes, craspedia (drumstick flower) grows in zones 10a and 10b. Start seeds indoors Dec 12–Dec 19 and plant out Feb 6–Feb 13.

When to plant craspedia (drumstick flower) in zone 10b

Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.

Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.

Start indoorsDec 12–Dec 19
Direct sow / transplant outsideFeb 6–Feb 13
Estimated bloomJun 1–Jun 8 (~115 days after transplanting)

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.

Plant alongside it in zone 10b

These go outside within two weeks of craspedia (drumstick flower) in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.

Craspedia (Drumstick Flower)
Photo: Hnsjrgnweis via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0, cropped.

Craspedia, often called drumstick flower or billy buttons, produces perfectly round, golf-ball-sized yellow flower heads on tall stems, a favorite for both fresh and dried arrangements because the blooms hold their shape and color so well.

How craspedia (drumstick flower) fits zone 10's season

Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Craspedia (drumstick flower) needs about 115 days from transplant to first bloom.

Craspedia (Drumstick Flower) planting windows in every zone

Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.

ZoneStart indoorsSow or plant outBloom
2a & 2bApr 1–Apr 8May 27–Jun 3Sep 19–Sep 26
3a & 3bApr 11–Apr 18Jun 6–Jun 13Sep 29–Oct 6
4a & 4bMar 27–Apr 3May 22–May 29Sep 14–Sep 21
5a & 5bMar 22–Mar 29May 17–May 24Sep 9–Sep 16
6a & 6bMar 7–Mar 14May 2–May 9Aug 25–Sep 1
7a & 7bFeb 20–Feb 27Apr 17–Apr 24Aug 10–Aug 17
8a & 8bFeb 4–Feb 11Apr 1–Apr 8Jul 25–Aug 1
9a & 9bDec 28–Jan 4Feb 22–Mar 1Jun 17–Jun 24
10a & 10b (your zone)Dec 12–Dec 19Feb 6–Feb 13Jun 1–Jun 8
11a & 11bNov 13–Nov 20Jan 8–Jan 15May 3–May 10

Bloom dates are about 115 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.

Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.

Good companions

No well-established companions for craspedia (drumstick flower).

Where to buy craspedia seeds

None of the seed suppliers we list carries craspedia seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing craspedia (drumstick flower)" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

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Growing Craspedia (Drumstick Flower) in USDA zone 10b

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Growing Craspedia (Drumstick Flower) in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.

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