Horehound in Zone 7a & 7b
Marrubium vulgare
Yes, horehound grows in zones 7a and 7b and comes back each year. Plant it outside Mar 27–Apr 3.
When to plant horehound in zone 7b
Zones 7a and 7b 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 | Mar 27–Apr 3 |
| Estimated harvest | First real harvest the season after planting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-2 ft.
Before you plant: Horehound has a winter-hardiness note for zone 7b. See the details below.
Plant alongside it in zone 7b
These go outside within two weeks of horehound in zone 7b, so one planting day can cover them.
- DillApr 3–Apr 10
- BorageApr 10–Apr 17
- ChervilMar 27–Apr 3
- ChivesMar 27–Apr 3
- Milk ThistleMar 27–Apr 3
- ParsleyMar 27–Apr 3
Horehound is a grey-green, woolly-leaved mint relative grown for a bitterness that mostly appears in throat lozenges.
How horehound fits zone 7's season
Zone 7b's frost-free window runs about 198 days, from April 10 to October 25. Horehound 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.
Horehound is hardy in zones 3-9, so in zone 7b it stays in the ground through winter and comes back rather than being replanted. Allow about 1.5 ft of spread at maturity.
Horehound planting windows in every zone
Zone 7b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 16–May 23 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 1–May 8 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | Apr 26–May 3 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 11–Apr 18 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 7a & 7b (your zone) | Not usually | Mar 27–Apr 3 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 11–Mar 18 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 1–Feb 8 | First real harvest the season after planting |
Good companions
No well-established companions for horehound.
Where to buy horehound seeds
True Leaf Market (each supplier's horehound seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing horehound" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 7b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Horehound in USDA zone 7b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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