Tansy in Zone 8a & 8b
Tanacetum vulgare
Yes, tansy grows in zones 8a and 8b and comes back each year. Plant it outside Mar 11–Mar 18.
When to plant tansy in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b 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 11–Mar 18 |
| Estimated harvest | First real harvest the season after planting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1-5 ft.
Before you plant: Tansy has a winter-hardiness note for zone 8b. See the details below.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of tansy in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- DillMar 18–Mar 25
- BorageMar 25–Apr 1
- ChervilMar 11–Mar 18
- ChivesMar 11–Mar 18
- HorehoundMar 11–Mar 18
- Milk ThistleMar 11–Mar 18
Tansy is an old cottage-garden and strewing herb that modern toxicology has largely retired from use.
How tansy fits zone 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Tansy 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.
Tansy 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 1.5 ft of spread at maturity.
Tansy 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 | 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 | Not usually | Mar 27–Apr 3 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 8a & 8b (your zone) | Not usually | Mar 11–Mar 18 | First real harvest the season after planting |
Good companions
No well-established companions for tansy.
Where to buy tansy seeds
True Leaf Market (each supplier's tansy seeds)
See why we recommend these suppliers →
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing tansy" 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 Tansy in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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