When to plant sunflowers in Michigan
Sow outdoors in Detroit
Apr 27–May 18
Across Michigan the window opens between April 19 and May 8. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.
- Sow outdoors, Detroit
- Apr 27–May 18
- Last sowing for a harvest
- Jul 3
- Last frost, Detroit
- Apr 27
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
DetroitApr 27–May 18
Grand RapidsMay 6–May 27
WarrenApr 21–May 12
Sterling HeightsApr 30–May 21
Ann ArborMay 5–May 26
LansingMay 1–May 22
DearbornMay 1–May 22
LivoniaMay 1–May 22
TroyApr 26–May 17
Farmington HillsMay 1–May 22
WestlandApr 20–May 11
FlintMay 3–May 24
WyomingMay 6–May 27
Rochester HillsApr 26–May 17
SouthfieldMay 1–May 22
KalamazooApr 28–May 19
NoviMay 1–May 22
PontiacApr 26–May 17
TaylorApr 20–May 11
Dearborn HeightsMay 1–May 22
St. Clair ShoresApr 29–May 20
Royal OakApr 21–May 12
KentwoodApr 30–May 21
Battle CreekApr 30–May 21
PortageApr 28–May 19
East LansingApr 28–May 19
RosevilleApr 29–May 20
SaginawApr 29–May 20
MidlandApr 29–May 20
Lincoln ParkMay 1–May 22
All 59 cities
| City | Sow outdoors | Last frost |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit | Apr 27 to May 18 | Apr 27 |
| Grand Rapids | May 6 to May 27 | May 6 |
| Warren | Apr 21 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Sterling Heights | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Ann Arbor | May 5 to May 26 | May 5 |
| Lansing | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Dearborn | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Livonia | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Troy | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Farmington Hills | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Westland | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Flint | May 3 to May 24 | May 3 |
| Wyoming | May 6 to May 27 | May 6 |
| Rochester Hills | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Southfield | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Kalamazoo | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Novi | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Pontiac | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Taylor | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Dearborn Heights | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| St. Clair Shores | Apr 29 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Royal Oak | Apr 21 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Kentwood | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Battle Creek | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Portage | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| East Lansing | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Roseville | Apr 29 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Saginaw | Apr 29 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Midland | Apr 29 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Lincoln Park | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Muskegon | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Holland | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Eastpointe | Apr 29 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Bay City | Apr 27 to May 18 | Apr 27 |
| Jackson | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Burton | May 8 to May 29 | May 8 |
| Oak Park | Apr 27 to May 18 | Apr 27 |
| Southgate | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Forest Hills | Apr 29 to May 20 | Apr 29 |
| Madison Heights | Apr 21 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Port Huron | Apr 19 to May 10 | Apr 19 |
| Allen Park | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Hamtramck | Apr 21 to May 12 | Apr 21 |
| Garden City | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Auburn Hills | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Walker | May 6 to May 27 | May 6 |
| Allendale | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Okemos | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Holt | Apr 28 to May 19 | Apr 28 |
| Norton Shores | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Inkster | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Romulus | Apr 20 to May 11 | Apr 20 |
| Wyandotte | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Waverly | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Marquette | May 8 to May 29 | May 8 |
| Birmingham | Apr 26 to May 17 | Apr 26 |
| Mount Pleasant | Apr 30 to May 21 | Apr 30 |
| Adrian | May 1 to May 22 | May 1 |
| Monroe | Apr 23 to May 14 | Apr 23 |
Questions
When should I plant sunflowers in Michigan?
In Detroit, sow outdoors from April 27 to May 18. Across Michigan the window opens between April 19 and May 8, 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.
More for Michigan
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Potatoes
Tulip bulbs
Garlic
Pumpkins
Strawberries
Onions
Carrots
Cucumbers
Daffodil bulbs
Corn
Sweet potatoes
Asparagus
Watermelon
Lettuce
Green beans
Sunflowers in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- 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
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming