Eucalyptus in Zone 11a & 11b
Eucalyptus pulverulenta
Yes, eucalyptus grows in zones 11a and 11b. Start seeds indoors Oct 30–Nov 6 and plant out Jan 8–Jan 15.
When to plant eucalyptus in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b 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 indoors | Oct 30–Nov 6 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 8–Jan 15 |
| Estimated bloom | Apr 18–Apr 25 (~100 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-4 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of eucalyptus in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumJan 8–Jan 15
- MarigoldJan 8–Jan 15
- Ageratum (Flossflower)Jan 8–Jan 15
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)Jan 8–Jan 15
- Campanula (Bellflower)Jan 8–Jan 15
- Castor BeanJan 8–Jan 15
Eucalyptus supplies the silver-blue, rounded foliage familiar from florist bouquets, grown here from seed as an annual cut-flower filler outside its natural zone 9-11 perennial range.
How eucalyptus fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Eucalyptus planting windows in every zone
Zone 11b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Mar 18–Mar 25 | May 27–Jun 3 | Sep 4–Sep 11 |
| 3a & 3b | Mar 28–Apr 4 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | Sep 14–Sep 21 |
| 4a & 4b | Mar 13–Mar 20 | May 22–May 29 | Aug 30–Sep 6 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 8–Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | Aug 25–Sep 1 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 21–Feb 28 | May 2–May 9 | Aug 10–Aug 17 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 6–Feb 13 | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Jul 26–Aug 2 |
| 8a & 8b | Jan 21–Jan 28 | Apr 1–Apr 8 | Jul 10–Jul 17 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 14–Dec 21 | Feb 22–Mar 1 | Jun 2–Jun 9 |
| 10a & 10b | Nov 28–Dec 5 | Feb 6–Feb 13 | May 17–May 24 |
| 11a & 11b (your zone) | Oct 30–Nov 6 | Jan 8–Jan 15 | Apr 18–Apr 25 |
Bloom dates are about 100 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 eucalyptus.
Where to buy eucalyptus seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries eucalyptus seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a clear consensus of positive, independent reviews, or ones we bought and use ourselves. Each item on our gear page says which.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing eucalyptus" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Eucalyptus in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
Save to Pinterest