| Plant | Zone 8a | Zone 8b |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | Plant outside: Apr 5 to May 10 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 22 | Plant outside: Mar 23 to Apr 27 Start seeds indoors: around Feb 9 |
| Parsley Comes back in zone 8 | Plant outside: Mar 1 to Mar 29 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 | Plant outside: Feb 16 to Mar 16 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Cilantro | Plant outside: Mar 1 to Mar 29 Fall planting: Sep 19 to Oct 17 | Plant outside: Feb 16 to Mar 16 Fall planting: Sep 26 to Oct 24 |
| Dill | Plant outside: Mar 1 to Mar 29 | Plant outside: Feb 16 to Mar 16 |
| Chives Comes back in zone 8 | Spring: Mar 15 to May 10 Fall: Aug 29 to Sep 26 | Spring: Mar 2 to Apr 27 Fall: Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Spearmint Comes back in zone 8 | Spring: Mar 15 to May 10 Fall: Aug 29 to Sep 26 | Spring: Mar 2 to Apr 27 Fall: Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Rosemary Comes back in zone 8 | Spring: Mar 15 to May 10 Fall: Aug 29 to Sep 26 | Spring: Mar 2 to Apr 27 Fall: Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Common thyme Comes back in zone 8 | Spring: Mar 15 to May 10 Fall: Aug 29 to Sep 26 | Spring: Mar 2 to Apr 27 Fall: Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Greek oregano Comes back in zone 8 | Spring: Mar 15 to May 10 Fall: Aug 29 to Sep 26 | Spring: Mar 2 to Apr 27 Fall: Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Garden sage Comes back in zone 8 | Spring: Mar 15 to May 10 Fall: Aug 29 to Sep 26 | Spring: Mar 2 to Apr 27 Fall: Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Lemon balm Comes back in zone 8 | Spring: Mar 15 to May 10 Fall: Aug 29 to Sep 26 | Spring: Mar 2 to Apr 27 Fall: Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| French tarragon Comes back in zone 8 | Spring: Mar 15 to May 10 Fall: Aug 29 to Sep 26 | Spring: Mar 2 to Apr 27 Fall: Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Lemongrass Annual in zone 8 | Plant outside: Apr 5 to May 10 | Plant outside: Mar 23 to Apr 27 |
| Bronze fennel Comes back in zone 8 | Plant outside: Mar 1 to Mar 29 | Plant outside: Feb 16 to Mar 16 |
| German chamomile | Plant outside: Mar 1 to Mar 29 | Plant outside: Feb 16 to Mar 16 |
| Stevia Annual in zone 8 | Plant outside: Apr 5 to May 10 | Plant outside: Mar 23 to Apr 27 |
| Lovage Comes back in zone 8 | Spring: Mar 15 to May 10 Fall: Aug 29 to Sep 26 | Spring: Mar 2 to Apr 27 Fall: Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Garden sorrel Comes back in zone 8 | Spring: Mar 15 to May 10 Fall: Aug 29 to Sep 26 | Spring: Mar 2 to Apr 27 Fall: Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
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 8a.
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.