When to plant sunflowers in North Carolina

Sunflowers
Sow outdoors in Charlotte
Mar 30–Apr 20

Across North Carolina the window opens between March 15 and April 16. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Charlotte
Mar 30–Apr 20
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 12
Last frost, Charlotte
Mar 30

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
CharlotteMar 30–Apr 20
RaleighMar 28–Apr 18
GreensboroApr 1–Apr 22
DurhamApr 2–Apr 23
Winston-SalemMar 26–Apr 16
FayettevilleMar 30–Apr 20
CaryMar 27–Apr 17
WilmingtonMar 19–Apr 9
High PointMar 30–Apr 20
ConcordApr 1–Apr 22
GreenvilleMar 27–Apr 17
AshevilleApr 6–Apr 27
GastoniaMar 27–Apr 17
ApexMar 27–Apr 17
JacksonvilleMar 23–Apr 13
HuntersvilleMar 30–Apr 20
Chapel HillMar 29–Apr 19
KannapolisApr 1–Apr 22
BurlingtonMar 29–Apr 19
Wake ForestApr 4–Apr 25
MooresvilleApr 9–Apr 30
Rocky MountMar 31–Apr 21
Holly SpringsApr 6–Apr 27
WilsonMar 22–Apr 12
Fuquay-VarinaApr 1–Apr 22
HickoryMar 31–Apr 21
Indian TrailMar 31–Apr 21
MonroeApr 3–Apr 24
GarnerApr 1–Apr 22
SalisburyApr 6–Apr 27
All 52 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
CharlotteMar 30 to Apr 20Mar 30
RaleighMar 28 to Apr 18Mar 28
GreensboroApr 1 to Apr 22Apr 1
DurhamApr 2 to Apr 23Apr 2
Winston-SalemMar 26 to Apr 16Mar 26
FayettevilleMar 30 to Apr 20Mar 30
CaryMar 27 to Apr 17Mar 27
WilmingtonMar 19 to Apr 9Mar 19
High PointMar 30 to Apr 20Mar 30
ConcordApr 1 to Apr 22Apr 1
GreenvilleMar 27 to Apr 17Mar 27
AshevilleApr 6 to Apr 27Apr 6
GastoniaMar 27 to Apr 17Mar 27
ApexMar 27 to Apr 17Mar 27
JacksonvilleMar 23 to Apr 13Mar 23
HuntersvilleMar 30 to Apr 20Mar 30
Chapel HillMar 29 to Apr 19Mar 29
KannapolisApr 1 to Apr 22Apr 1
BurlingtonMar 29 to Apr 19Mar 29
Wake ForestApr 4 to Apr 25Apr 4
MooresvilleApr 9 to Apr 30Apr 9
Rocky MountMar 31 to Apr 21Mar 31
Holly SpringsApr 6 to Apr 27Apr 6
WilsonMar 22 to Apr 12Mar 22
Fuquay-VarinaApr 1 to Apr 22Apr 1
HickoryMar 31 to Apr 21Mar 31
Indian TrailMar 31 to Apr 21Mar 31
MonroeApr 3 to Apr 24Apr 3
GarnerApr 1 to Apr 22Apr 1
SalisburyApr 6 to Apr 27Apr 6
LelandMar 19 to Apr 9Mar 19
CorneliusApr 1 to Apr 22Apr 1
GoldsboroMar 15 to Apr 5Mar 15
New BernMar 23 to Apr 13Mar 23
SanfordApr 10 to May 1Apr 10
MatthewsMar 31 to Apr 21Mar 31
ClaytonApr 7 to Apr 28Apr 7
MorrisvilleMar 31 to Apr 21Mar 31
StatesvilleApr 16 to May 7Apr 16
Mint HillMar 31 to Apr 21Mar 31
KernersvilleMar 30 to Apr 20Mar 30
AsheboroApr 5 to Apr 26Apr 5
ThomasvilleMar 30 to Apr 20Mar 30
ShelbyApr 12 to May 3Apr 12
KnightdaleApr 7 to Apr 28Apr 7
WaxhawMar 31 to Apr 21Mar 31
ClemmonsApr 9 to Apr 30Apr 9
MebaneApr 4 to Apr 25Apr 4
CarrboroMar 31 to Apr 21Mar 31
HarrisburgApr 1 to Apr 22Apr 1
LexingtonApr 11 to May 2Apr 11
GrahamApr 4 to Apr 25Apr 4

Questions

When should I plant sunflowers in North Carolina?

In Charlotte, sow outdoors from March 30 to April 20. Across North Carolina the window opens between March 15 and April 16, 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 North Carolina

Sunflowers in other states

Frost dates for every city in North Carolina