Planting Period Key Recommended Not Recommended

This table lists the recommended times to sow flower seeds for the typical Southern California climate (Zones 8-9). If you are in zone 7, for instance, go back a month, zone 6, a month and a half. If you don't know your zone, check HERE. And when buying transplants, remember to adjust for the age of the plant (about 1-2 months). This table is also available sorted by botanical name.

Acroclinium  (Helipterum)
African Daisy, Cape Marigold  (Dimorphotheca)
Alyssum  (Lobularia maritima)
Aster  (Aster)
Baby's Breath, Gypsophila  (Gypsophila)
Bachelor Button, Cornflower  (Centaurea cyanus)
Balloon Flower  (Platycodon)
Bellflower  (Campanula)
Bells of Ireland  (Moluccella laevis)
Blanket Flower  (Gaillardia)
Blazing Star  (Mentzelia)
Butterfly Flower  (Schizanthus pinnatus)
Calendula, Pot Marigold  (Calendula officinalis)
California Desert Bluebells  (Phacelia campanularia)
California Poppy  (Eschscholzia californica)
Candytuft  (Iberis sempervirens)
Carnation  (Dianthus caryophyllus)
Chinese Forget-me-not  (Cynoglossum amabile)
Chinese Houses  (Collinsia heterophylla)
Chysanthemum  (Chysanthemum)
Cockscomb  (Celosia)
Coleus  (Coleus hybridus)
Columbine  (Aguilegia)
Convolvulus  (Convolvulus)
Coreopsis  (Coreopsis)
Cosmos  (Cosmos)
Cup and Saucer Vine  (Cobaea scandens)
Dahlia  (Dahlia)
Flax  (Linum)
Floss Flower  (Ageratum)
Forget-me-not  (Myosotis)
Four O'Clock  (Mirabilis jalapa)
Foxglove  (Digitalis)
Gazania  (Gazania)
Gloriosa Daisy, Rudbeckia  (Rudbeckia)
Godetia, Clarkia  (Clarkia)
Hollyhock  (Alcea rosea)
Impatiens  (Impatiens)
Ipomopsis  (Ipomopsis)
Larkspur, Delphinium  (Delphinium)
Lavendar  (Lavendula)
Lobelia  (Lobelia)
Love-in-a-mist  (Nigella damascena)
Lupine  (Lupinus)
Marigold  (Tagetes)
Mexican Sunflower  (Tithonia rotundifolia)
Mexican Tulip Poppy  (Hunnemannia fumariifolia)
Money Plant  (Lunaria annua)
Morning Glory  (Ipomoea)
Moss Rose  (Portulaca)
Nasturtium  (Tropaeolum)
Nemesia  (Nemesia)
Nemophila  (Nemophila)
Nicotiana  (Nicotiana)
Painted Tongue  (Salpiglossis sinuata)
Pansy  (Viola)
Passion Vine  (Passiflora)
Periwinkle, Myrtle  (Vinca)
Petunia  (Petunia hybrida)
Phlox  (Phlox)
Pincushion Flower  (Scabiosa)
Pink, Dianthus  (Dianthus)
Poppy  (Papaver)
Primrose  (Primula)
Queen Anne's Lace  (Ammi Majus)
Sage  (Salvia)
Snapdragon  (Antirrhinum)
Statice  (Limonium)
Stock  (Matthiola)
Strawflower  (Helichrysum)
Sunflower  (Helianthus)
Sweet Pea  (Lathyrus)
Sweet Sultan  (Centaurea moschata)
Sweet William  (Dianthus barbatus)
Thrift, Sea Pink  (Armeria)
Thunbergia  (Thunbergia)
Toadflax  (Linaria)
Verbena  (Verbena)
Viola  (Viola)
Wallflower  (Erysimum)
Wishbone Flower  (Torenia fournieri)
Zinnia  (Zinnia)