Conditional — Some Areas
amaranth (zones 2-11) has limited zone overlap with Pennsylvania (5a-7a). Only zones 5-7 in the state are suitable.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Amaranth is grown as an annual, so your winter zone isn't the deciding factor — your frost-free window is, and slope, trees, and low spots move the last-frost date across a single yard. Enter your address and we'll score amaranth against your parcel's actual frost dates, sun, and soil.
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Zone Comparison
Amaranth Needs
- USDA Zones: 2-11
- Soil pH: 4.3 - 8.5
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 30+
Pennsylvania Has
- USDA Zones: 5a-7a
- Last Frost: Apr 10 - May 15
- First Frost: Sep 25 - Oct 25
- Annual Rainfall: 36-48 inches
- Common Soils: Silt loam, Shale-derived, Limestone-derived
Plant Zone Range (zones 2-11)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Amaranth in Pennsylvania
The frost window
Across Pennsylvania, the last spring frost clears between Apr 10 and May 15, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 25 and Oct 25 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 133-day window you can count on — up to 198 days on a mild site in a kind year.
Frost tenderness
Amaranth is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 44.6°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so set plants out after the last frost has cleared your local site, not the state's earliest date.
Days to maturity vs. the window
At 90 days to maturity (USDA PLANTS Database), a planting right after last frost ripens with 43 days to spare even in Pennsylvania's tightest frost scenario — room for a later start or a second sowing.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Amaranth wants 30+ frost-free days; a typical Pennsylvania site sees ~190 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Amaranth needs ~1200 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~3200 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so Pennsylvania's typical season clears that easily.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Amaranth likes near-neutral soil (pH 4.3-8.5). That's the common-ground band across Pennsylvania's silt loam and shale-derived — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Pennsylvania site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Pennsylvania soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Amaranth in Pennsylvania — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
- Plant Zones: 2-11 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 5a-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: Apr 10 - May 15 to Sep 25 - Oct 25 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 90 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Pennsylvania growers also need to think about:
Rocky shale soils in the ridge-and-valley region
Build up over shale rather than into it — raised beds with imported soil give roots depth the ridge won't.
Short mountain seasons in the Poconos and Alleghenies
Mountain growers stretch the season with cold frames and fast varieties — the missing weeks are recoverable.
Deer pressure is among the highest in the US
In the hardest-hit deer country, a tall fence is the only reliable line — resistant plants cover the rest.
Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension
For Pennsylvania-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for amaranth, the canonical source is Penn State Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Amaranth native to Pennsylvania?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Amaranth as native to Pennsylvania. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Amaranth in Pennsylvania
When can I plant Amaranth in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania's last spring frost clears between Apr 10 and May 15, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 25 and Oct 25 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Amaranth is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 44.6°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so wait until the last frost has cleared your specific site before planting out.
Can Amaranth mature before first frost in Pennsylvania?
Yes — Amaranth matures in 90 days (USDA PLANTS Database), and Pennsylvania's dependable frost-free window runs 133 days (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020), leaving 43 days of margin. Plant just after last frost and it ripens ahead of the first fall frost.
What hardiness zone is Amaranth grown in across Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania spans USDA hardiness zones 5a-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Amaranth carries a range of zones 2-11, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Pennsylvania site have?
A typical Pennsylvania site sees ~190 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Amaranth needs 30+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date.
Is Amaranth native to Pennsylvania?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Amaranth as native to Pennsylvania. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
How should I amend the soil for Amaranth in Pennsylvania?
Amaranth prefers pH 4.3-8.5 and well (dry spells) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Pennsylvania soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Amaranth actually grow on my specific land in Pennsylvania?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores amaranth against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in Pennsylvania
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores amaranth against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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