Tansy in Zone 5a & 5b
Tanacetum vulgare
When to plant tansy in zone 5b
Zones 5a and 5b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. Tansy doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 26–May 3 |
| Estimated harvest | Apr 25 '28–May 2 '28 (First real harvest the season after planting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-5 ft.
Tansy is an old cottage-garden and strewing herb that modern toxicology has largely retired from use.
How tansy fits zone 5's season
Zone 5b's frost-free window runs about 148 days, from May 10 to October 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 5b it stays in the ground through winter and comes back rather than being replanted. Allow about 1.5 ft of spread at maturity.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Tansy.
Where to buy 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 5b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Tansy in USDA zone 5b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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