Moonflower in Zone 11a & 11b
Ipomoea alba
When to plant moonflower in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Moonflower tolerates either.
| Start indoors | Nov 27–Dec 4 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 1–Jan 8 |
| Estimated bloom | Apr 1–Apr 8 (~90 days after planting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 10-20 ft.
Moonflower is a morning glory that runs on the opposite schedule. The flowers, white trumpets six inches across, open in the late afternoon and close at dawn, and they're scented for a pollinator most gardeners never see: hawkmoths and sphinx moths, working the plant after dark. If you sit outside on a summer evening you can sometimes watch a bud unwind in a couple of minutes.
How moonflower fits zone 11's season
Zone 11b is frost-free in this dataset, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Moonflower.
Where to buy moonflower seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing moonflower" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Moonflower in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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