Strawflower in Zone 4a & 4b
Xerochrysum bracteatum
Yes, strawflower grows in zones 4a and 4b. Start seeds indoors Mar 27–Apr 3 and plant out May 15–May 22.
When to plant strawflower in zone 4b
Zones 4a and 4b 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 | Mar 27–Apr 3 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 15–May 22 |
| Estimated bloom | Aug 3–Aug 10 (~80 days after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 4b
These go outside within two weeks of strawflower in zone 4b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumMay 22–May 29
- MarigoldMay 22–May 29
- African DaisyMay 15–May 22
- Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding)May 15–May 22
- Ammi (False Queen Anne's Lace)May 15–May 22
- Ammobium (Winged Everlasting)May 15–May 22
Strawflower gets its name from its stiff, papery petals, which is also exactly why it's such a popular dried flower. The daisy-like blooms come in red, orange, yellow, pink, or white on plants 2 to 3 feet tall. Cut and hung to dry, they hold their color and shape for years instead of fading and crumbling the way softer petals do.
How strawflower fits zone 4's season
Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. Strawflower needs about 80 days from sowing to first bloom.
Strawflower planting windows in every zone
Zone 4b 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 1–Apr 8 | May 20–May 27 | Aug 8–Aug 15 |
| 3a & 3b | Apr 11–Apr 18 | May 30–Jun 6 | Aug 18–Aug 25 |
| 4a & 4b (your zone) | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 15–May 22 | Aug 3–Aug 10 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 22–Mar 29 | May 10–May 17 | Jul 29–Aug 5 |
| 6a & 6b | Mar 7–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 2 | Jul 14–Jul 21 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 20–Feb 27 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | Jun 29–Jul 6 |
| 8a & 8b | Feb 4–Feb 11 | Mar 25–Apr 1 | Jun 13–Jun 20 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 28–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Feb 22 | May 6–May 13 |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Aug–Dec | Oct–Feb | ~80 days after transplanting |
Bloom dates are about 80 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 strawflower.
Where to buy strawflower seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee (each supplier's strawflower seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Silvery Rose (Xerochrysum bracteatum 'Silvery Rose'): A tall, well-branched double-flowered strain in cream and white frosted with rose at the petal tips, bred specifically as a dried flower rather than a garden bedding plant. Buy: Botanical Interests Full notes
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing strawflower" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 4b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Strawflower in USDA zone 4b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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