When to plant sunflowers in Illinois
Sow outdoors in Chicago
Apr 10–May 1
Across Illinois the window opens between April 4 and May 1. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.
- Sow outdoors, Chicago
- Apr 10–May 1
- Last sowing for a harvest
- Jul 14
- Last frost, Chicago
- Apr 10
Sow outdoors up to 3 weeks after the last frost. Sow every two weeks until midsummer for flowers through fall.
Sunflowers planting dates by city
Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
ChicagoApr 10–May 1
AuroraApr 19–May 10
NapervilleApr 28–May 19
JolietApr 19–May 10
RockfordApr 24–May 15
ElginApr 26–May 17
SpringfieldApr 15–May 6
PeoriaApr 16–May 7
ChampaignApr 15–May 6
WaukeganApr 30–May 21
CiceroApr 11–May 2
BloomingtonApr 25–May 16
SchaumburgApr 30–May 21
EvanstonApr 26–May 17
Arlington HeightsApr 19–May 10
BolingbrookApr 20–May 11
DecaturApr 14–May 5
SkokieApr 26–May 17
PalatineApr 25–May 16
Des PlainesApr 16–May 7
Orland ParkApr 19–May 10
Oak LawnApr 10–May 1
Mount ProspectApr 19–May 10
Tinley ParkApr 23–May 14
BerwynApr 11–May 2
WheatonApr 28–May 19
NormalApr 25–May 16
Oak ParkApr 11–May 2
Hoffman EstatesApr 30–May 21
Downers GroveApr 28–May 19
All 121 cities
| City | Sow outdoors | Last frost |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Apr 10 to May 1 | Apr 10 |
| Aurora | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Naperville | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Joliet | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Rockford | Apr 24 to May 15 | Apr 24 |
| Elgin | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Springfield | Apr 15 to May 6 | Apr 15 |
| Peoria | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Champaign | Apr 15 to May 6 | Apr 15 |
| Waukegan | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Cicero | Apr 11 to May 2 | Apr 11 |
| Bloomington | Apr 25 to May 16 | Apr 25 |
| Schaumburg | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Evanston | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Arlington Heights | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Bolingbrook | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Decatur | Apr 14 to May 5 | Apr 14 |
| Skokie | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Palatine | Apr 25 to May 16 | Apr 25 |
| Des Plaines | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Orland Park | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Oak Lawn | Apr 10 to May 1 | Apr 10 |
| Mount Prospect | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Tinley Park | Apr 23 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Berwyn | Apr 11 to May 2 | Apr 11 |
| Wheaton | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Normal | Apr 25 to May 16 | Apr 25 |
| Oak Park | Apr 11 to May 2 | Apr 11 |
| Hoffman Estates | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Downers Grove | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Plainfield | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Glenview | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Elmhurst | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Lombard | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Buffalo Grove | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Moline | Apr 24 to May 15 | Apr 24 |
| Crystal Lake | Apr 25 to May 16 | Apr 25 |
| Romeoville | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Bartlett | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| DeKalb | Apr 24 to May 15 | Apr 24 |
| Belleville | Apr 12 to May 3 | Apr 12 |
| Oswego | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Urbana | Apr 15 to May 6 | Apr 15 |
| Carol Stream | Apr 25 to May 16 | Apr 25 |
| Quincy | Apr 8 to Apr 29 | Apr 8 |
| Park Ridge | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Wheeling | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Streamwood | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Carpentersville | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Hanover Park | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Rock Island | Apr 24 to May 15 | Apr 24 |
| Addison | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Calumet City | Apr 23 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Northbrook | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| North Chicago | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Woodridge | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| St. Charles | Apr 25 to May 16 | Apr 25 |
| Mundelein | Apr 29 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| O'Fallon | Apr 12 to May 3 | Apr 12 |
| Glendale Heights | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Elk Grove Village | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Pekin | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Algonquin | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Highland Park | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Gurnee | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Niles | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| McHenry | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Huntley | Apr 25 to May 16 | Apr 25 |
| New Lenox | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Glen Ellyn | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Lake in the Hills | Apr 25 to May 16 | Apr 25 |
| Galesburg | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Burbank | Apr 10 to May 1 | Apr 10 |
| Danville | Apr 21 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Lansing | Apr 23 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Lockport | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Wilmette | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Round Lake Beach | Apr 24 to May 15 | Apr 24 |
| Vernon Hills | Apr 29 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Granite City | Apr 4 to Apr 25 | Apr 4 |
| Oak Forest | Apr 23 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Yorkville | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Batavia | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Chicago Heights | Apr 23 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Edwardsville | Apr 4 to Apr 25 | Apr 4 |
| Woodstock | Apr 25 to May 16 | Apr 25 |
| South Elgin | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Belvidere | Apr 24 to May 15 | Apr 24 |
| West Chicago | Apr 25 to May 16 | Apr 25 |
| Alton | Apr 4 to Apr 25 | Apr 4 |
| Homer Glen | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Morton Grove | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Zion | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Westmont | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Melrose Park | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Collinsville | Apr 8 to Apr 29 | Apr 8 |
| Loves Park | Apr 24 to May 15 | Apr 24 |
| Rolling Meadows | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Elmwood Park | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Lisle | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Kankakee | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Maywood | Apr 11 to May 2 | Apr 11 |
| Freeport | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Machesney Park | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Roselle | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Bloomingdale | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| East Peoria | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
| Darien | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Montgomery | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Villa Park | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Carbondale | Apr 9 to Apr 30 | Apr 9 |
| Blue Island | Apr 10 to May 1 | Apr 10 |
| Frankfort | Apr 23 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Grayslake | Apr 29 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Geneva | Apr 25 to May 16 | Apr 25 |
| Park Forest | Apr 23 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| South Holland | Apr 23 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| Libertyville | Apr 29 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Crest Hill | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Dolton | Apr 23 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
| East Moline | Apr 16 to May 7 | Apr 16 |
Questions
When should I plant sunflowers in Illinois?
In Chicago, sow outdoors from April 10 to May 1. Across Illinois the window opens between April 4 and May 1, depending on the local last frost.
How is this date worked out?
Sow outdoors up to 3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.
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Sunflowers in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
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- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
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- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
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- Ohio
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- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
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