Petunia in Zone 8a & 8b
Petunia × hybrida
Yes, petunia grows in zones 8a and 8b. Start seeds indoors Jan 21–Jan 28 and plant out Apr 8–Apr 15.
When to plant petunia in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. It needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Jan 21–Jan 28 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 8–Apr 15 |
| Estimated bloom | Jun 17–Jun 24 (~70 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 0.5-1 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of petunia in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumApr 1–Apr 8
- MarigoldApr 1–Apr 8
- Angelonia (Summer Snapdragon)Apr 8–Apr 15
- Bee BalmApr 8–Apr 15
- Black-Eyed Susan VineApr 8–Apr 15
- Chrysanthemum (Garden Mum)Apr 8–Apr 15
Petunias take the longest lead time of any flower on this list. Seed goes in about 9 weeks before last frost, and it needs light to germinate, so it's surface-sown rather than buried. That long runway is the price for having sizable, blooming plants ready to set out once the weather turns: a trailing or mounding 6- to 12-inch plant covered in trumpet-shaped flowers across a wide color range.
How petunia fits zone 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Petunia needs about 70 days from transplant to first bloom.
Petunia planting windows in every zone
Zone 8b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2a & 2b | Mar 18–Mar 25 | Jun 3–Jun 10 | Aug 12–Aug 19 |
| 3a & 3b | Mar 28–Apr 4 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | Aug 22–Aug 29 |
| 4a & 4b | Mar 13–Mar 20 | May 29–Jun 5 | Aug 7–Aug 14 |
| 5a & 5b | Mar 8–Mar 15 | May 24–May 31 | Aug 2–Aug 9 |
| 6a & 6b | Feb 21–Feb 28 | May 9–May 16 | Jul 18–Jul 25 |
| 7a & 7b | Feb 6–Feb 13 | Apr 24–May 1 | Jul 3–Jul 10 |
| 8a & 8b (your zone) | Jan 21–Jan 28 | Apr 8–Apr 15 | Jun 17–Jun 24 |
| 9a & 9b | Dec 14–Dec 21 | Mar 1–Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 |
| 10a & 10bFall window | Jul–Jan | Sep–Mar | ~70 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11b | Oct 30–Nov 6 | Jan 15–Jan 22 | Mar 26–Apr 2 |
Bloom dates are about 70 days after the sow or plant-out date, not after starting seeds indoors.
Zone 2 sows before zone 3 here, which looks wrong and is not. USDA zones rank winter cold, not season length, and zone 2 is mostly interior Alaska, where hard winters come with warm summers. More on what a zone measures.
Good companions
No well-established companions for petunia.
Where to buy petunia seeds
Botanical Interests · True Leaf Market · Burpee (each supplier's petunia seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing petunia" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 8b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Petunia in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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