Tansy in Zone 3a & 3b
Tanacetum vulgare
Yes, tansy grows in zones 3a and 3b and comes back each year. Plant it outside May 16–May 23.
When to plant tansy in zone 3b
Zones 3a and 3b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 16–May 23 |
| Estimated harvest | First real harvest the season after planting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-5 ft.
Before you plant: Tansy has a winter-hardiness note for zone 3b. See the details below.
Plant alongside it in zone 3b
These go outside within two weeks of tansy in zone 3b, so one planting day can cover them.
- DillMay 23–May 30
- BorageMay 30–Jun 6
- ChervilMay 16–May 23
- ChivesMay 16–May 23
- HorehoundMay 16–May 23
- ParsleyMay 16–May 23
Tansy is an old cottage-garden and strewing herb that modern toxicology has largely retired from use.
How tansy fits zone 3's season
Zone 3b's frost-free window runs about 98 days, from May 30 to September 5. Tansy takes about 1 growing season to reach first worthwhile harvest, so what matters here is how many of these seasons it gets, not whether one is long enough.
Tansy is hardy in zones 3-8, so in zone 3b it stays in the ground through winter and comes back rather than being replanted. Allow about 1.5 ft of spread at maturity.
Tansy planting windows in every zone
Zone 3b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b (your zone) | Not usually | May 16–May 23 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 1–May 8 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | Apr 26–May 3 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 11–Apr 18 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Mar 27–Apr 3 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 11–Mar 18 | First real harvest the season after planting |
Good companions
No well-established companions for tansy.
Where to buy tansy seeds
True Leaf Market (each supplier's tansy seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing tansy" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 3b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Tansy in USDA zone 3b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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