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When to Plant Dianthus in Nevada

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.

Nevada spans USDA hardiness zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 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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Find Your County

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 Nevada

Zone 5b ~178 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 18 · First frost: October 13 · 178 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 14 Feb 14 – Feb 28
Transplant Outdoors April 4 Apr 4 – Apr 18
Direct Sow March 21 Mar 21 – Apr 11
Bloom May 23 May 23 – Aug 15
Zone 6a ~193 day growing season · Full guide →

Last frost: April 10 · First frost: October 20 · 193 day season

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 13 Feb 13 – Feb 27
Transplant Outdoors March 27 Mar 27 – Apr 10
Direct Sow March 13 Mar 13 – Apr 3
Bloom May 15 May 15 – Aug 14
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 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 Nevada

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Dianthus in Nevada?

Planting dates for Dianthus in Nevada depend on your USDA zone. Nevada spans zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.

What zone is Nevada for planting?

Nevada contains USDA hardiness zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 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.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals, University Cooperative Extension planting guides. Last updated: June 2026.