Stevia in Zone 8a & 8b
Stevia rebaudiana
Yes, stevia grows in zones 8a and 8b. Set out nursery plants Apr 1–Apr 8.
When to plant stevia in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Buy as a start: Buy as a nursery start and transplant outside. It's slow or unreliable from seed, so most gardeners skip seed-starting it entirely.
| Start indoors | Not started from seed; buy as a nursery start |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Apr 1–Apr 8 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 30–Jul 7 (~90 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-2.5 ft.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of stevia in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- BasilApr 8–Apr 15
- BorageMar 25–Apr 1
- RosemaryApr 8–Apr 15
- DillMar 18–Mar 25
- CatmintApr 1–Apr 8
- Citronella Plant (Mosquito Plant)Apr 1–Apr 8
Stevia is grown for its intensely sweet leaves, used fresh or dried as a natural sugar substitute, and it's a tender perennial that only survives winter outdoors in zones 10 and 11.
How stevia fits zone 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Stevia needs about 90 days from transplant to first harvest.
Stevia 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 | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | Buy as a start | Jun 6–Jun 13 | Sep 4–Sep 11 |
| 4a & 4b | Buy as a start | May 22–May 29 | Aug 20–Aug 27 |
| 5a & 5b | Buy as a start | May 17–May 24 | Aug 15–Aug 22 |
| 6a & 6b | Buy as a start | May 2–May 9 | Jul 31–Aug 7 |
| 7a & 7b | Buy as a start | Apr 17–Apr 24 | Jul 16–Jul 23 |
| 8a & 8b (your zone) | Buy as a start | Apr 1–Apr 8 | Jun 30–Jul 7 |
| 9a & 9b | Buy as a start | Feb 22–Mar 1 | May 23–May 30 |
| 10a & 10bSpring window | Buy as a start | Feb–Apr | ~90 days after transplanting |
| Fall window | Buy as a start | Oct–Nov | ~90 days after transplanting |
| 11a & 11b | Buy as a start | Jan 8–Jan 15 | Apr 8–Apr 15 |
Harvest dates are about 90 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Good companions
No well-established companions for stevia.
Where to buy stevia starts
Stevia is almost always bought as a nursery start rather than seeded. Check a local nursery or garden center; we haven't vetted online start/plant suppliers yet.
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing stevia" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing Stevia in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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