Yes — Strong Match
calibrachoa is grown as an annual, so season length decides it here, not a winter zone — and Ohio's typical season runs ~208 frost-free days against the ~60 calibrachoa needs.
Sow by about Sep 10
Calibrachoa is grown as an annual, so what decides it here is season length, not a winter zone. It needs about 60 frost-free days and a typical Ohio season runs ~208 frost-free days, leaving 148 days of slack. That is room to sow as late as about Sep 10 and still finish before the usual first freeze (Nov 4), or to run a second succession.
Want more weeks at either end of that window? How to buy the weeks →
60 frost-free days required against Ohio’s ~208-day season. NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS 1991-2020 (28°F killing freeze), state median across counties, via stateClimateData.ts.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Calibrachoa is grown as an annual, so your winter zone isn't the deciding factor — your frost-free window is. A typical Ohio site runs ~208 frost-free days, but that is a state median, not your yard: slope, trees, and low spots move the last-frost date across a single parcel. Enter your address and we'll score calibrachoa against your land's actual frost dates, sun, and soil.
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Zone Comparison
Calibrachoa Needs
- USDA Zones: Data pending
- Frost-Free Days: 60+
- Sun: Full Sun
- Mature size: 6 in tall
- Picking window: ~150 days of harvest
- Drought tolerance: Medium
Ohio Has
- USDA Zones: 5b-7a
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Apr 5 - Apr 13
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Oct 31 - Nov 6
- Annual Rainfall: 34-42 inches
- Common Soils: Glacial till, Clay loam, Silt loam
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / Growable Ground plant catalog. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Calibrachoa in Ohio
The frost window
Across Ohio, the last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Apr 5 and Apr 13, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Oct 31 and Nov 6 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last freeze to the earliest first freeze, that's a 201-day window you can count on — up to 215 days on a mild site in a kind year. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost, so tender transplants usually wait another 2-3 weeks.
When to start the seed
Those dates are when calibrachoa goes out, not when it starts. It is sown under cover about 12 weeks ahead, so counting back from Ohio's late-side last freeze of Apr 13 is what fixes your sowing date — and a yard that clears frost earlier than the state's late date starts earlier still.
Days to maturity vs. the window
At 55 days to maturity (USDA PLANTS Database), counting from the last hard freeze it ripens with 146 days to spare even in Ohio's tightest freeze scenario — room for a later start or a second sowing.
Timing tuned to sub-state frost dates — Geauga County, not the statewide average.
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
Frost-free days
Calibrachoa wants 60+ frost-free days; a typical Ohio site sees ~208 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Calibrachoa needs ~1200 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~2921 GDD (from PRISM 1991-2020 climate normals), so Ohio's typical season clears that easily.
GDD and chill-hour figures are computed from PRISM 1991-2020 monthly climate normals; frost-free days from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020. Each is the state median across its counties (P25/P75 span the within-state spread). Hardiness-zone range is USDA PHZM 2023.
Soil + Drainage Fit
Calibrachoa likes near-neutral soil (pH 5-6.5). That's the common-ground band across Ohio's glacial till and clay loam — a soil test confirms it for your site. It will grow across that whole span, but it does best between pH 5.5 and 6 — worth knowing before you decide whether a Ohio soil test result is a problem or just a number. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your Ohio site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Your land, not the state average
Ohio's soils run mostly silt loam, but SSURGO maps the series, texture, and drainage under your exact parcel. What matters for calibrachoa is the horizon its roots actually work, not the surface. That map unit, not the state average, decides how calibrachoa performs.
Check your parcel → Source: USDA NRCS SSURGO.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. Ohio soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Calibrachoa in Ohio — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Yes — Strong Match
- Plant Zones: Data pending (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 5b-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: 28°F hard freezes about Apr 5 - Apr 13 to Oct 31 - Nov 6 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020)
- Days to Maturity: 55 days
What Else to Consider for Calibrachoa in Ohio
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but Ohio growers also need to think about:
Heavy clay soils across much of northern Ohio require amendment for drainage
Variable spring weather with late frost risk through mid-May
Japanese beetles and tomato hornworms are common garden pests
Wet springs can delay planting and promote root rot
Growing calibrachoa here specifically
Ohio's soils run mostly silt loam (Alfisols), and whether that suits calibrachoa's pH 5.0–6.5 preference comes down to your exact parcel, not the statewide picture.
Pull your parcel's SSURGO map unit, test pH, and amend toward calibrachoa's 5.0–6.5 target before planting. How to handle it →
What to actually do about these — and the constraints that apply to every Ohio grower, not just calibrachoa — is covered on the Ohio growing guide.
Timing shifts within Ohio
Ohio isn't one climate. In Geauga County, the last hard freeze (28°F) holds until about Apr 22 — roughly 13 days later than the recorded state median — so plant calibrachoa to your county's window, not the statewide date.
Calibrachoa needs about 60 days of frost-free season to complete its cycle. Even Columbiana County — Ohio’s shortest season at 182 frost-free days — clears that by 122 days, so season length isn’t the constraint anywhere in Ohio. What varies is your own parcel.
County last-freeze dates and frost-free day counts: NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS (1991-2020), county 28°F freeze (earlier than the folk 32°F "last frost"). Calibrachoa's 60-day requirement: USDA PLANTS / Growable Ground plant database (minimum frost-free days). A parcel report resolves your address's own frost dates.
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Calibrachoa draws honeybees, butterflies, and hummingbirds (moderate value, Growable Ground Plant Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops. Outdoors, calibrachoa can only work that bloom inside Ohio's frost window — roughly 208 days, opening after the last 28°F freeze (Apr 5 - Apr 13) and closing at the first (Oct 31 - Nov 6), per NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020.
Recommended Calibrachoa Varieties for Ohio
Ohio publishes no state variety trial for calibrachoa, so we won't invent a "best for Ohio" list. Choose types rated to your USDA hardiness zone (5b-7a), and confirm winter survival and drainage against your own parcel.
Ohio Cooperative Extension
For Ohio-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for calibrachoa, the canonical source is Ohio State University Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Calibrachoa native to Ohio?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Calibrachoa as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Ohio's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Ohio natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
Looking for plants that belong here? The Ohio growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Calibrachoa in Ohio
When can I plant Calibrachoa in Ohio?
Ohio's last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Apr 5 and Apr 13, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Oct 31 and Nov 6 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Time outdoor planting to after the last hard freeze for your specific site — a further two to three weeks for anything tender — and count back from those dates for transplant scheduling.
Can Calibrachoa mature before first frost in Ohio?
Yes — Calibrachoa matures in 55 days (USDA PLANTS Database), and Ohio's dependable hard-freeze-free window runs 201 days (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020), leaving 146 days of margin. Plant once the last hard freeze has passed — two to three weeks later for anything tender — and it ripens ahead of the first fall freeze.
What hardiness zone is Calibrachoa grown in across Ohio?
Ohio spans USDA hardiness zones 5b-7a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Calibrachoa carries a range of zones Data pending, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical Ohio site have?
A typical Ohio site sees ~208 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Calibrachoa needs 60+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date. In cooler counties like Geauga, the freeze-free season runs shorter than the state average, so verify your own county's window.
Is Calibrachoa native to Ohio?
No — the USDA PLANTS Database lists Calibrachoa as introduced rather than native in the Lower 48, so it is not part of Ohio's native flora. It grows here as a garden plant; pairing it with a few Ohio natives keeps local pollinators fed too.
How should I amend the soil for Calibrachoa in Ohio?
Calibrachoa prefers pH 5-6.5 and well (dry spells) drainage (Growable Ground Plant Database). That sits in the common-ground band across Ohio soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Calibrachoa actually grow on my specific land in Ohio?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores calibrachoa 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 Ohio
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores calibrachoa against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your lot that Ohio calibrachoa averages can't show:
We read public map data around Ohio — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources read at your address, not the Ohio calibrachoa average
Analysis by the Growable Ground research team, grounded in USDA PLANTS, USDA NRCS SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), and named Cooperative Extension sources. How we know →
Cite this dataset
Kirchick, M. (2026). Growable Ground Plant Database [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21435643
Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. DOI 10.5281/zenodo.21435643
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