Moonflower in Zone 8a & 8b
Ipomoea alba
When to plant moonflower in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Either: Start indoors for an earlier harvest, or direct-sow outside for less fuss. Moonflower tolerates either.
| Start indoors | Feb 18–Feb 25 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 25–Apr 1 |
| Estimated bloom | Jun 23–Jun 30 (~90 days after planting) |
Spacing: 2 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 10-20 ft.
Moonflower is a morning glory that runs on the opposite schedule. The flowers, white trumpets six inches across, open in the late afternoon and close at dawn, and they're scented for a pollinator most gardeners never see: hawkmoths and sphinx moths, working the plant after dark. If you sit outside on a summer evening you can sometimes watch a bud unwind in a couple of minutes.
How moonflower fits zone 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Moonflower needs about 90 days from sowing to first harvest.
Good companions
No standout companions recorded yet for Moonflower.
Where to buy moonflower seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing moonflower" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 8b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Moonflower in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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