When to Plant Sunflower in Florida
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a fast-growing North American native annual famous for its towering stems and brilliant yellow heads. It thrives in full sun and heat, producing large, pollen-rich blooms that attract bees, butterflies, and seed-eating birds. Varieties range from 18-inch dwarfs to 12-foot giants and nearly every color except blue.
Florida spans USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 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.
Find Your County
Click your county for exact Sunflower planting dates based on your local frost dates.
Hover over a county to see details. Click to view planting guide.
Sunflower Planting Calendar for Florida
▸ 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 | December 11 | Dec 11 – Dec 25 |
| Transplant Outdoors | November 20 | Nov 20 – Dec 4 |
| Direct Sow | November 20 | Nov 20 – Dec 11 |
| Bloom | February 12 | Feb 12 – Aug 13 |
▸ 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 | December 11 | Dec 11 – Dec 25 |
| Transplant Outdoors | November 13 | Nov 13 – Nov 27 |
| Direct Sow | November 13 | Nov 13 – Dec 4 |
| Bloom | February 5 | Feb 5 – Aug 20 |
▸ Zone 11a ~364 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 11 | Dec 11 – Dec 25 |
| Transplant Outdoors | November 6 | Nov 6 – Nov 20 |
| Direct Sow | November 6 | Nov 6 – Nov 27 |
| Bloom | January 29 | Jan 29 – Aug 27 |
▸ Zone 11b ~364 day growing season · Full guide →
Last frost: January 1 · First frost: December 31 · 364 day season
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | December 11 | Dec 11 – Dec 25 |
| Transplant Outdoors | October 30 | Oct 30 – Nov 13 |
| Direct Sow | October 30 | Oct 30 – Nov 20 |
| Bloom | January 22 | Jan 22 – Sep 3 |
▸ 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 | February 4 | Feb 4 – Feb 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | February 11 | Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| Direct Sow | February 11 | Feb 11 – Mar 4 |
| Bloom | May 6 | May 6 – Sep 23 |
▸ 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 | January 20 | Jan 20 – Feb 3 |
| Transplant Outdoors | January 20 | Jan 20 – Feb 3 |
| Direct Sow | January 20 | Jan 20 – Feb 10 |
| Bloom | April 14 | Apr 14 – Sep 15 |
▸ 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 | January 4 | Jan 4 – Jan 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | December 28 | Dec 28 – Jan 11 |
| Direct Sow | December 28 | Dec 28 – Jan 18 |
| Bloom | March 22 | Mar 22 – Sep 6 |
Growing Tips for Florida
Direct-sow 1 inch deep after last frost; germination takes 7-14 days at 65-75°F soil. Sunflowers dislike root disturbance so direct sowing is strongly preferred over transplanting. Plant in succession every 2 weeks for extended bloom. Stake tall varieties. Avoid overwatering — they tolerate drought once established. Birds will self-deadhead seed heads; leave them up through fall for wildlife.
Sunflower in Other States
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Sunflower in Florida?
Planting dates for Sunflower in Florida depend on your USDA zone. Florida spans zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 8b, 9a, 9b. Check the planting calendar above for your specific zone's frost dates and planting windows.
What zone is Florida for planting?
Florida contains USDA hardiness zones 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 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.