Pineapple Sage in Zone 5a & 5b
Salvia elegans
Yes, pineapple sage grows in zones 5a and 5b. Set out nursery plants May 17–May 24.
When to plant pineapple sage in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Buy as a start: Buy as a nursery start and transplant outside. It's slow or unreliable from seed, so most gardeners skip seed-starting it entirely.
| Start indoors | Not started from seed; buy as a nursery start |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | May 17–May 24 |
| Estimated harvest | Aug 15–Aug 22 (~90 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: about 10 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 3-5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 5b
These go outside within two weeks of pineapple sage in zone 5b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilMay 24–May 31
- BorageMay 10–May 17
- RosemaryMay 24–May 31
- DillMay 3–May 10
- CatmintMay 17–May 24
- Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant)May 17–May 24
Pineapple sage earns its space twice: the leaves smell of pineapple when you brush them, and the scarlet flowers arrive in late summer when most of the garden has stopped performing.
How pineapple sage fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 5. Pineapple sage needs about 90 days from transplant to first harvest.
Pineapple Sage 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 | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a & 4b | Buy as a start | May 22–May 29 | Aug 20–Aug 27 |
| 5a & 5b (your zone) | Buy as a start | May 17–May 24 | Aug 15–Aug 22 |
| 6a & 6b | Buy as a start | May 2–May 9 | Jul 31–Aug 7 |
| 7a & 7b | Buy as a start | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Jul 16–Jul 23 |
| 8a & 8b | Buy as a start | Apr 1–Apr 8 | Jun 30–Jul 7 |
| 9a & 9b | Buy as a start | Feb 22–Mar 1 | May 23–May 30 |
| 10a & 10b | Buy as a start | Feb 6–Feb 13 | May 7–May 14 |
Harvest dates are about 90 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Good companions
No well-established companions for pineapple sage.
Where to buy pineapple sage starts
Pineapple sage is almost always bought as a nursery start rather than seeded. Check a local nursery or garden center; we haven't vetted online start/plant suppliers yet.
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing pineapple sage" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing Pineapple Sage in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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