African Daisy in Zone 5a & 5b
Dimorphotheca sinuata
Yes, African daisy grows in zones 5a and 5b. Plant it outside May 10–May 17.
When to plant African daisy in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b 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 10–May 17 |
| Estimated bloom | Jul 9–Jul 16 (~60 days after direct-sowing) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of African daisy in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumMay 17–May 24
- MarigoldMay 17–May 24
- Amaranthus (Love-Lies-Bleeding)May 10–May 17
- Ammi (False Queen Anne's Lace)May 10–May 17
- Ammobium (Winged Everlasting)May 10–May 17
- California BluebellMay 10–May 17
African daisy is a quick, low annual that gets from seed to flower in about two months and keeps going from spring through fall.
How African daisy fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. African daisy needs about 60 days from sowing to first bloom.
African Daisy planting windows in every zone
Zone 5b 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 | Not usually | May 20–May 27 | Jul 19–Jul 26 |
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 30–Jun 6 | Jul 29–Aug 5 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 15–May 22 | Jul 14–Jul 21 |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | Not usually | May 10–May 17 | Jul 9–Jul 16 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 25–May 2 | Jun 24–Jul 1 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Apr 10–Apr 17 | Jun 9–Jun 16 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 25–Apr 1 | May 24–May 31 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 15–Feb 22 | Apr 16–Apr 23 |
| 10a & 10b | Not usually | Jan 30–Feb 6 | Mar 31–Apr 7 |
| 11a & 11b | Not usually | Jan 1–Jan 8 | Mar 2–Mar 9 |
Bloom dates are about 60 days after the sow or plant-out date.
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 African daisy.
Where to buy African daisy seeds
None of the seed suppliers we list carries African daisy seeds right now. A local garden center or a specialty seed house is the place to look.
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing African daisy" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 5b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing African Daisy in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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