Epazote is an annual culinary herb, grown for the flavor it brings to the kitchen, ready to harvest about 55 days after planting. Notably, it stands up to deer and grows just as well in a container as in the ground.
Zones
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pH Range
5.5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
55
Score Epazote on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether epazote actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score epazote against your land's real conditions.
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What Epazote is
Epazote grows as an annual and reaches around 3.3 feet at maturity. It blooms green in summer. It's also deer-resistant and well suited to containers.
How to grow Epazote
Epazote is ready to harvest about 55 days after planting. Epazote does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,200 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 60 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
Data pending
Soil pH
5.5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Days to Maturity
55 days
Growable Ground plant catalog
GDD Required
1200+
Growing degree-days of accumulated warmth it needs to mature — humid summers reach this faster than cool coastal ones.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Mature Height
3.3 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
60+
The frost-free stretch it needs start to finish — short-season areas may need an indoor head start.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Start the season right
Plant epazote in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Epazote prefers pH 5.5 to 8 (Growable Ground Plant Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Epazote is ready about 55 days after planting (University Extension production guides). Snip sprigs as you need them — regular cutting keeps the foliage tender and slows it bolting to flower.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — epazote is toxic to dogs and cats (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: Cornell Poisonous Plants Database.)
Epazote isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data — pair it with high-value bloomers nearby to feed bees.
Before you harvest epazote, know your soil
Anything you grow to eat takes up what's in the ground it grows in, so it's worth knowing what's documented near you before you plant epazote for food. Our free screen reads 9 federal source types across roughly 1.8M indexed sites and shows which sit near your address and which way they drain. It's a screening estimate from public records and proximity — not a soil test — so a nearby record means a soil test is worth it, not that your soil is unsafe.
Where Epazote thrives
Whether epazote thrives on a given site comes down to its soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost dates — the conditions that vary parcel to parcel.
See if Epazote will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether epazote actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
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.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Epazote in my zone?
Zone data for epazote is being finalized. A Growable Ground report checks your parcel's full suitability against federal soil, climate, and zone data.
How long does Epazote take to grow?
Epazote is ready to harvest about 55 days after planting (University Extension production guides). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Epazote?
Most growers plant epazote after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 60-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Epazote need?
Epazote needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Epazote need?
Epazote prefers soil pH 5.5 to 8, on well-drained ground (Growable Ground Plant Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Epazote attract pollinators?
Epazote isn't classified as a notable pollinator plant in our data. Pairing it with high-value bloomers nearby keeps bees and butterflies fed.
Is Epazote safe for pets?
Epazote is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: Cornell Poisonous Plants Database.)