Mugwort in Zone 8a & 8b

Artemisia vulgaris

When to plant mugwort in zone 8b

Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. Mugwort doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.

Start indoors	Not typically started indoors
Direct sow / transplant outside	Mar 25–Apr 1
Estimated harvest	Mar 24 '28–Mar 31 '28 (First real harvest the season after planting)

Spacing: about 4 square feet per plant (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-4 ft.

Mugwort has a long history in cooking and herbal medicine, and it is one of the more difficult plants to have in a garden.

How mugwort fits zone 8's season

Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Mugwort 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.

Mugwort is hardy in zones 3-8, so in zone 8b it stays in the ground through winter and comes back rather than being replanted. Allow about 4 ft of spread at maturity.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Mugwort.

Where to buy mugwort seeds

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