When to Plant Dianthus in California

China pinks (Dianthus chinensis) are a reliable cool-season annual offering fringed blooms with a spicy-sweet clove fragrance. They perform best in the cool temperatures of spring and fall, providing vivid color in beds and borders when summer annuals haven't kicked in yet. In warmer zones they are grown as fall–winter–spring annuals. The compact mounding habit and clean foliage make them excellent edging and container plants.

California spans USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b (with planting data available), so planting dates vary by your location within the state. Click your zone below for the most accurate dates.

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Click your county for exact Dianthus planting dates based on your local frost dates.

Hover over a county to see details. Click to view planting guide.

Dianthus Planting Calendar for California

▸ Zone 10a ~364 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	November 6	Nov 6 – Nov 20
Transplant Outdoors	October 23	Oct 23 – Nov 6
Direct Sow	October 23	Oct 23 – Nov 13
Bloom	December 11	Dec 11 – Jan 29

▸ Zone 10b ~364 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	November 6	Nov 6 – Nov 20
Transplant Outdoors	October 16	Oct 16 – Oct 30
Direct Sow	October 16	Oct 16 – Nov 6
Bloom	December 4	Dec 4 – Jan 8

▸ Zone 6b ~205 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 3 · First frost: October 25 · 205 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	February 6	Feb 6 – Feb 20
Transplant Outdoors	March 13	Mar 13 – Mar 27
Direct Sow	March 6	Mar 6 – Mar 27
Bloom	May 1	May 1 – Jul 31

▸ Zone 7a ~221 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 25 · First frost: November 1 · 221 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 28	Jan 28 – Feb 11
Transplant Outdoors	March 4	Mar 4 – Mar 18
Direct Sow	February 18	Feb 18 – Mar 11
Bloom	April 22	Apr 22 – Jul 22

▸ Zone 7b ~235 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 18 · First frost: November 8 · 235 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 21	Jan 21 – Feb 4
Transplant Outdoors	February 18	Feb 18 – Mar 4
Direct Sow	February 11	Feb 11 – Mar 4
Bloom	April 8	Apr 8 – Jul 1

▸ Zone 8a ~255 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: March 8 · First frost: November 18 · 255 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	January 11	Jan 11 – Jan 25
Transplant Outdoors	February 1	Feb 1 – Feb 15
Direct Sow	January 25	Jan 25 – Feb 15
Bloom	March 22	Mar 22 – Jun 7

▸ Zone 8b ~276 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 25 · First frost: November 28 · 276 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	December 31	Dec 31 – Jan 14
Transplant Outdoors	January 14	Jan 14 – Jan 28
Direct Sow	January 7	Jan 7 – Jan 28
Bloom	March 4	Mar 4 – May 13

▸ Zone 9a ~303 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: February 10 · First frost: December 10 · 303 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	December 16	Dec 16 – Dec 30
Transplant Outdoors	December 16	Dec 16 – Dec 30
Direct Sow	December 16	Dec 16 – Jan 6
Bloom	February 3	Feb 3 – Apr 7

▸ Zone 9b ~329 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: January 25 · First frost: December 20 · 329 day season

Activity	When	Date Range
Start Indoors	November 30	Nov 30 – Dec 14
Transplant Outdoors	November 23	Nov 23 – Dec 7
Direct Sow	November 23	Nov 23 – Dec 14
Bloom	January 11	Jan 11 – Mar 8

Growing Tips for California

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost for spring transplants, or direct-sow in early spring as soon as soil can be worked — seeds tolerate light frost. Can also be direct-sown in late summer for fall bloom. Plant in full sun with excellent drainage; poorly drained soil causes crown rot. Deadhead regularly to extend bloom. In zones 8–10, plant as a fall annual for winter– spring color; plants decline in summer heat.

Dianthus in Other States

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Dianthus in California?

Planting dates for Dianthus in California depend on your USDA zone. California spans zones 10a, 10b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is California for planting?

California contains USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b. Your specific zone depends on your location within the state — northern and higher-elevation areas are in colder zones, while southern and coastal areas are warmer.

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