Sensitive Plant is grown for its foliage and the structure it brings to a planting. It's hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11 and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees.
Zones
9-11
pH Range
5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Sensitive Plant on your exact land.
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See Sensitive Plant
What Sensitive Plant is
It blooms in spring. It's also well suited to containers.
How to grow Sensitive Plant
Sensitive Plant grows in USDA zones 9 through 11. Sensitive Plant does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 60 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
9-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
50°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
60+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant sensitive plant in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Sensitive Plant prefers pH 5 to 7.5 (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.
Keep it in good form
Prune sensitive plant to shape as it grows; the reward is its foliage and structure, not a harvest, so steady upkeep is the whole job.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — sensitive plant is toxic to dogs and cats (mild severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Sensitive Plant offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Sensitive Plant thrives
Sensitive Plant is hardy across USDA zones 9 through 11. 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 9–11·Where Sensitive Plant growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Sensitive Plant can grow in these states:
See if Sensitive Plant will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether sensitive plant 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 Sensitive Plant in my zone?
Sensitive Plant grows in USDA hardiness zones 9 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 Sensitive Plant?
Most growers plant sensitive plant 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 Sensitive Plant need?
Sensitive Plant 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 Sensitive Plant need?
Sensitive Plant prefers soil pH 5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Sensitive Plant attract pollinators?
Yes — sensitive plant's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Sensitive Plant safe for pets?
Sensitive Plant is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with mild severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.