| Plant | Zone 9a | Zone 9b |
|---|---|---|
| Zinnia | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 9 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 11 |
| French marigold | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 26 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Petunia | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Cosmos | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 |
| Sunflower | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 |
| Impatiens | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 12 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Wax begonia | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Zonal geranium | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 12 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Snapdragon | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Mar 2 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 Fall planting: Oct 8 to Nov 5 | Plant outside: Jan 4 to Feb 1 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 Fall planting: Oct 21 to Nov 18 |
| Pansy | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Mar 2 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 Fall planting: Oct 8 to Nov 5 | Plant outside: Jan 4 to Feb 1 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 Fall planting: Oct 21 to Nov 18 |
| Sweet alyssum | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Mar 2 Fall planting: Oct 8 to Nov 5 | Plant outside: Jan 4 to Feb 1 Fall planting: Oct 21 to Nov 18 |
| Celosia | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 26 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Scarlet sage | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 12 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Lantana | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Madagascar periwinkle | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Nasturtium | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 |
| Sweet pea | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Mar 2 Fall planting: Oct 8 to Nov 5 | Plant outside: Jan 4 to Feb 1 Fall planting: Oct 21 to Nov 18 |
| Larkspur | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Mar 2 Fall planting: Oct 8 to Nov 5 | Plant outside: Jan 4 to Feb 1 Fall planting: Oct 21 to Nov 18 |
| Pot marigold | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Mar 2 Fall planting: Oct 8 to Nov 5 | Plant outside: Jan 4 to Feb 1 Fall planting: Oct 21 to Nov 18 |
| Coleus | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Garden verbena | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 12 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Spider flower | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 |
| Floss flower | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 12 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Moss rose | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 |
Zones measure winter cold, not season length, so your own frost dates can be a week or two off the zone median. Look up your frost dates by ZIP code, or read all about zone 9a.
Hardiness ranges, light and size are typical figures from university extension services and botanic garden plant records; a named variety can differ, so check its tag. Planting dates come from each zone's median frost dates (NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals) and the timing rules in how we check.