Sweet Annie (Artemisia) in Zone 11a & 11b
Artemisia annua
Yes, sweet annie (artemisia) grows in zones 11a and 11b. Start seeds indoors Nov 20–Nov 27 and plant out Jan 1–Jan 8.
When to plant sweet annie (artemisia) in zone 11b
Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Either works.
| Start indoors | Nov 20–Nov 27 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Jan 1–Jan 8 |
| Estimated bloom | Apr 11–Apr 18 (~100 days after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-6 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 11b
These go outside within two weeks of sweet annie (artemisia) in zone 11b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumJan 8–Jan 15
- MarigoldJan 8–Jan 15
- African DaisyJan 1–Jan 8
- Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding)Jan 1–Jan 8
- Ammi (False Queen Anne's Lace)Jan 1–Jan 8
- Ammobium (Winged Everlasting)Jan 1–Jan 8
Sweet Annie is not the culinary tarragon already covered on this site, though the two share a genus. This one is grown for its sweetly aromatic, feathery foliage, a favorite for wreaths and as a fragrant filler in dried arrangements.
How sweet annie (artemisia) 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.
Sweet Annie (Artemisia) 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 | Apr 8–Apr 15 | May 20–May 27 | Aug 28–Sep 4 |
| 3a & 3b | Apr 18–Apr 25 | May 30–Jun 6 | Sep 7–Sep 14 |
| 4a & 4b | Apr 3–Apr 10 | May 15–May 22 | Aug 23–Aug 30 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 29–Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | Aug 18–Aug 25 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 14–Mar 21 | Apr 25–May 2 | Aug 3–Aug 10 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | Jul 19–Jul 26 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 11–Feb 18 | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Jul 3–Jul 10 |
| 9a & 9b | Jan 4–Jan 11 | Feb 15–Feb 22 | May 26–Jun 2 |
| 10a & 10b | Dec 19–Dec 26 | Jan 30–Feb 6 | May 10–May 17 |
| 11a & 11b (your zone) | Nov 20–Nov 27 | Jan 1–Jan 8 | Apr 11–Apr 18 |
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 sweet annie (artemisia).
Where to buy sweet annie seeds
Botanical Interests (sweet annie seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing sweet annie (artemisia)" 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 →
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Growing Sweet Annie (Artemisia) in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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