Sweet Annie is a fragrant annual artemisia that fills a summer garden with delicate, feathery foliage and an intoxicating sweet scent that intensifies as the season progresses. This heirloom grows 4 to 6 feet tall in just 98 to 112 days from seed to bloom, thriving across hardiness zones 2 through 11 and flowering reliably from June through November. Its airy habit and deer resistance make it a reliable choice for gardeners seeking ornamental interest without constant vigilance, while its ability to thrive in full sun and moderate water makes it surprisingly low maintenance.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
72in H x 24in W
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High
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Sweet Annie's greatest gift is its fragrance. Brush past the feathery, thread-like foliage and your fingertips release a warm, sweet scent that lingers in memory long after the bloom season ends. The plant grows tall and slender, reaching nearly six feet, yet remains upright without support thanks to a naturally sturdy structure. It flowers consistently from early summer into fall, providing weeks of delicate visual interest even as its aromatic power peaks in late season.
Sweet Annie is grown primarily for its aromatic foliage and ornamental presence in the garden. The plant is harvested for its fragrant stems and leaves, which dry beautifully for potpourri, sachets, and floral arrangements. Many gardeners cut and dry bunches to enjoy the scent throughout the year.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date. Sow on the soil surface and press in lightly; do not bury. Maintain temperatures of 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds typically sprout in 7 to 21 days. Transplanting is recommended for earlier bloom and stronger plants.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outdoors 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, or when soil temperature reaches at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Direct sow outdoors 2 weeks before your average last frost date, or 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date when soil is warm enough. Press seeds into the surface and keep soil moist until germination occurs in 7 to 21 days.
Harvest Sweet Annie stems and foliage once the plant is well established and flowering. Cut stems in the morning after dew dries for maximum fragrance. Harvest regularly throughout the summer and fall to encourage branching and continued production. The plant is at its most aromatic late in the season, so the best harvests often come in late summer and early fall.
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