Growing annual salvia (scarlet sage) in zone 5b
(Zone 5b = an average winter low of -15°F to -10°F.)
In USDA zone 5b, the typical last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost is October 10. Here is when to plant annual salvia (scarlet sage) against those dates.
Typical timing
Zone 5b planting schedule
Evidence trail
How these dates are built
Sprout applies the cited planting offsets to the typical zone 5b frost anchors. The result is a planning baseline for the zone, not a local weather forecast.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023USDA Agricultural Research Service / Oregon State University PRISM Group. Supports the USDA hardiness-zone band.
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Supports the median spring and fall freeze dates.
- Salvia (HGIC 1174)Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center. Supports indoor seed-starting timing (normalized) and outdoor transplant timing (normalized).
Method note
Annual Salvia splendens (bedding sage), sow indoors 6 to 8 weeks before planting, plant out after frost danger passes, full sun with partial-shade tolerance, and the recorded stem rot, root rot, and gray mold risks. No numeric spacing, depth, or water rate is given for this species.
These are zone 5b averages
Computed from 2,843 ZIP codes in zone 5b. Your town's frost dates vary; enter your ZIP for dates built on your nearest weather station.
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Put these dates to work
The plant profile covers spacing, light, water, soil, and source-backed timing details.