Safflower is an annual grown for its blooms, which open from spring through fall. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11, shrugs off deer and shrugs off dry spells. Its flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
120
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What Safflower is
Safflower grows as an annual and reaches around three feet at maturity. It blooms from spring through fall. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Safflower
Safflower grows in USDA zones 2 through 11. Safflower does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground. It needs around 2,000 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 120 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
Growable Ground plant catalog
Drainage
well (dry spells)
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost Tolerance
41°F
The lowest temperature it shrugs off — below this, expect damage without cover.
Growable Ground plant catalog
Days to Maturity
120 days
Growable Ground plant catalog
GDD Required
2000+
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 ft
Growable Ground plant catalog
Frost-Free Days
120+
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 safflower in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Safflower prefers pH 5 to 8 (FAO ECOCROP). 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 its peak
Cut safflower blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — safflower isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Safflower offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators.
Where Safflower thrives
On hardiness alone, safflower grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. 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 2–11·Where Safflower growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Safflower can grow in these states:
See if Safflower will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether safflower 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Safflower in my zone?
Safflower grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Safflower?
Most growers plant safflower after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 120-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 Safflower need?
Safflower 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 Safflower need?
Safflower prefers soil pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground (FAO ECOCROP). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Safflower attract pollinators?
Yes — safflower's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies.
Is Safflower safe for pets?
Safflower is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data. Always supervise pets around new plantings. (Source: ASPCA.)