Sweet Annie (Artemisia) in Zone 4a & 4b
Artemisia annua
Yes, sweet annie (artemisia) grows in zones 4a and 4b. Start seeds indoors Apr 3–Apr 10 and plant out May 15–May 22.
When to plant sweet annie (artemisia) 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 | Apr 3–Apr 10 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 15–May 22 |
| Estimated bloom | Aug 23–Aug 30 (~100 days after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 4-6 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 4b
These go outside within two weeks of sweet annie (artemisia) 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
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 4's season
Zone 4b's frost-free window runs about 128 days, from May 15 to September 20. Sweet annie (artemisia) needs about 100 days from sowing to first bloom.
Sweet Annie (Artemisia) 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 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 (your zone) | 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 | 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 →
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 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 4b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
%20in%20USDA%20zone%204b%3A%20when%20to%20start%20seeds%20indoors%2C%20when%20to%20direct-sow%2C%20and%20when%20to%20expect%20a%20bloom.)
Pin this for later
Growing Sweet Annie (Artemisia) in USDA zone 4b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
Save to Pinterest