| Plant | Zone 9a | Zone 9b |
|---|---|---|
| Basil | 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 |
| Parsley Comes back in zone 9 | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Mar 2 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 | Plant outside: Jan 4 to Feb 1 Start seeds indoors: around Jan 1 |
| Cilantro | 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 |
| Dill | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Mar 2 | Plant outside: Jan 4 to Feb 1 |
| Chives Comes back in zone 9 | Spring: Feb 16 to Apr 13 Fall: Sep 17 to Oct 15 | Spring: Jan 18 to Mar 15 Fall: Sep 30 to Oct 28 |
| Spearmint Comes back in zone 9 | Spring: Feb 16 to Apr 13 Fall: Sep 17 to Oct 15 | Spring: Jan 18 to Mar 15 Fall: Sep 30 to Oct 28 |
| Rosemary Comes back in zone 9 | Spring: Feb 16 to Apr 13 Fall: Sep 17 to Oct 15 | Spring: Jan 18 to Mar 15 Fall: Sep 30 to Oct 28 |
| Common thyme Comes back in zone 9 | Spring: Feb 16 to Apr 13 Fall: Sep 17 to Oct 15 | Spring: Jan 18 to Mar 15 Fall: Sep 30 to Oct 28 |
| Greek oregano Comes back in zone 9 | Spring: Feb 16 to Apr 13 Fall: Sep 17 to Oct 15 | Spring: Jan 18 to Mar 15 Fall: Sep 30 to Oct 28 |
| Garden sage Annual in zone 9 | Spring: Feb 16 to Apr 13 Fall: Sep 17 to Oct 15 | Spring: Jan 18 to Mar 15 Fall: Sep 30 to Oct 28 |
| Lemon balm Comes back in zone 9 | Spring: Feb 16 to Apr 13 Fall: Sep 17 to Oct 15 | Spring: Jan 18 to Mar 15 Fall: Sep 30 to Oct 28 |
| French tarragon Annual in zone 9 | Spring: Feb 16 to Apr 13 Fall: Sep 17 to Oct 15 | Spring: Jan 18 to Mar 15 Fall: Sep 30 to Oct 28 |
| Lemongrass Annual in zone 9 | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 |
| Bronze fennel Comes back in zone 9 | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Mar 2 | Plant outside: Jan 4 to Feb 1 |
| German chamomile | Plant outside: Feb 2 to Mar 2 | Plant outside: Jan 4 to Feb 1 |
| Stevia Comes back in zone 9 | Plant outside: Mar 9 to Apr 13 | Plant outside: Feb 8 to Mar 15 |
| Lovage Annual in zone 9 | Spring: Feb 16 to Apr 13 Fall: Sep 17 to Oct 15 | Spring: Jan 18 to Mar 15 Fall: Sep 30 to Oct 28 |
| Garden sorrel Comes back in zone 9 | Spring: Feb 16 to Apr 13 Fall: Sep 17 to Oct 15 | Spring: Jan 18 to Mar 15 Fall: Sep 30 to Oct 28 |
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.