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Planting Zone Finder
Your USDA hardiness zone is the starting point for knowing what will survive your winters and when to plant. Find yours, then let it guide the rest.
Your USDA Hardiness Zone tells you which plants can survive your local winters. Enter a zip code to find yours instantly.
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USDA Plant Hardiness Zones divide the US into 13 primary zones based on the average annual minimum winter temperature. Each zone is 10°F warmer (or colder) than the adjacent zone, with each zone divided into ‘a’ and ‘b’ half-zones separated by 5°F.
The USDA calculates zones from 30-year averages of the coldest winter temperatures recorded across thousands of weather stations. The 2023 map update incorporated data from 1991–2020 and shifted roughly half of the US into a warmer half-zone than before.
Check plant tags and seed packets for zone ratings before buying. A plant rated ‘Hardy to Zone 5’ will survive your winters if you’re in Zone 5 or warmer. Remember zones only describe cold hardiness — heat tolerance, rainfall, and soil type matter just as much.
Select your zone to download planting charts.
A planting zone (or hardiness zone) is a geographic region defined by its average annual minimum winter temperature. The USDA divides North America into 13 zones, each split into “a” and “b” half-zones, to help gardeners choose plants that can survive their local winter conditions.
Sometimes. Many gardeners successfully grow plants rated for slightly warmer zones by using containers (which can be moved indoors), planting near south-facing walls that retain heat, adding mulch for root insulation, or using greenhouses and cold frames. Plants rated for colder zones than yours will generally do fine, since they’re bred to handle harsher winters than what you’ll experience.
No. USDA zones are based only on winter minimum temperatures, not summer heat or humidity. If summer heat is a concern (especially in the South), it’s worth also checking the American Horticultural Society’s Heat Zone Map, which rates plants by their tolerance to consecutive days above 86°F (30°C).
Yes. The USDA updates the map periodically as climate data shifts — the most recent update was in 2023, and many regions shifted into slightly warmer zones compared to the previous 2012 map. It’s worth rechecking your zone every so often, especially if you’re near a zone boundary.
Guides and articles tailored to your hardiness zone.
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