Frisee is an annual grown for its leaves, ready to start cutting about 50 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 4 through 9 and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a modest draw for honeybees, even though the leaves are the prize. Once it comes in, a single planting keeps producing for a couple of weeks, so you harvest over time rather than all at once.
Zones
4-9
pH Range
5-7
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
50
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What Frisee is
Frisee grows as an annual and reaches around a foot at maturity. It blooms blue in summer. It's also well suited to containers.
How to grow Frisee
Frisee grows in USDA zones 4 through 9 and is ready to harvest about 50 days after planting. Frisee does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground. It needs around 900 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 50 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
4-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Days to Maturity
50 days
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
900+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
1 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
50+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant frisee in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Frisee prefers pH 5 to 7 (USDA PLANTS 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
Frisee is ready about 50 days after sowing (University Extension production guides). Cut the outer leaves as you need them — frequent harvest keeps new growth coming.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — frisee isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Frisee offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Frisee thrives
Frisee is hardy across USDA zones 4 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 4–9·Where Frisee growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Frisee can grow in these states:
See if Frisee will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether frisee actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Frisee in my zone?
Frisee grows in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Frisee take to grow?
Frisee is ready to harvest about 50 days after planting (University Extension production guides). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Frisee?
Most growers plant frisee after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 50-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 Frisee need?
Frisee 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 Frisee need?
Frisee prefers soil pH 5 to 7, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Frisee attract pollinators?
Yes — frisee's flowers are a modest nectar source for honeybees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Frisee safe for pets?
Frisee is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.