What is My Growing Zone?

2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Table of Contents

Enter Your Zip Code to Find Your Growing Zone

You can use your zip code to find your USDA planting zone. Knowing your zone helps you pick the right plants that will grow well in your area all season long.

What Are USDA Plant Hardiness Zones?

Plant hardiness zones—also known as growing zones or planting zones—are set by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). They are based on the average coldest temperatures in each area over the past 30 years. They show how cold it usually gets in winter where you live.

The USDA plant hardiness zone system divides the U.S. into zones from 1 (coldest) to 13 (warmest). This helps gardeners choose perennial plants, vegetables, trees, and shrubs that are most likely to survive and grow well in their specific plant hardiness zone.

Why Growing Zones Matter

If you've ever wondered, "What agricultural zone am I in?" or searched for planting zones by zip code, this is where to start. Having this information can help you:

  • Identify safe planting and harvest times
  • Know when to select cold-hardy or heat-tolerant plants
  • Increase long-term plant survival
  • Plan ahead using reliable climate data
  • Adapt to changes in local weather and climate
  • Save you time, money, and effort

Shop by Growing Zone

Choose from regionally appropriate trees, seeds, and plants:

How to Use a Growing Zone Map

A USDA hardiness zone map or growing zone map helps you identify your zone using historical temperature data.

  • Enter your zip code: Use the tool above to enter your zip code and view growing zone by zip code
  • Check your zone designation: Each zone is a 10°F range of average minimum temperatures
  • Use subzones like 6a or 7b for greater accuracy (each subzone represents a 5°F temperature difference)
  • Review your frost dates: Knowing the first and last frost dates helps plan the growing season
  • Account for microclimates: Urban areas, slopes, shade, and wind can all slightly shift growing conditions

Gardening Tips by USDA Zone

Cold Zones (1–5): These zones face long winters, deep freezes, and short growing seasons.

What to Do:

  • Choose Hardy Plants: Select plants bred for extreme cold including many berries, bareroot trees grafted onto hearty rootstocks, and certain bulbs like Iris, Daffodils and Crocus flowers.
  • Start Indoors Early: Begin seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost to extend your season.
  • Use Insulating Techniques: Mulch heavily, use cloches or cold frames, and install windbreaks to reduce winter damage.
  • Grow Season Extenders: Using frost cloth and greenhouses let you start crops earlier and harvest longer into fall.


Moderate Zones (6–8): These areas enjoy more balanced climates with moderate winters and extended growing seasons.

What to Do:

  • Diversify Your Garden: You can grow everything from stone fruits and berries to root crops and leafy greens.
  • Watch for Late Frosts: Protect budding fruit trees and early vegetable starts with frost blankets or covers.
  • Practice Succession Planting: Plant crops like lettuce, radish, and beans every 2–3 weeks to enjoy continuous harvests.
  • Year-Round Composting: Take advantage of milder winters to maintain active compost piles and healthy soil.


Warm Zones (9–13): These regions have mild winters and long, hot summers, with limited or no frost. Gardeners in these areas can enjoy extended growing seasons and even year-round gardening with the right plant choices and care.

What to Do:

  • Choose Heat-Loving Plants: Grow summer vegetables and herbs or citrus trees that love sun and warmth.
  • Manage Water Wisely: Use mulch, drip irrigation, and water early in the morning to minimize evaporation.
  • Provide Shade: Use shade cloths, trellises, and companion planting to shield heat-sensitive crops during peak sun hours.
  • Grow in Winter: Take advantage of mild winters to grow cool-season crops like lettuce, broccoli, and spinach when heat stress is low.


Gardening Year-Round by Zone

Your USDA zone is a key tool in planning not just what to grow, but also when and how to grow it for year-round success.

Use Your Zone to:

  • Plan Seasonal Planting Schedules: Know when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest. This is especially crucial for timing crops like tomatoes or squash to avoid frost damage.
  • Maximize Growing Periods: Extend the growing season with row covers, cold frames, and greenhouse structures suited to your zone.
  • Protect Vulnerable Crops: Understanding local extremes—both cold snaps and heat waves—can help you better protect sensitive plants. Learn how to use shade cloth for sun protection and the benefits of mulch to protect plants.
  • Adjust to Changing Conditions: Zones are shifting because of climate change so stay flexible. You may be able to grow crops you couldn’t before, or you might need to protect others from intense heat or drought.

The Importance of 30-Year Climate Data

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is based on climate data averaged over 30 years from thousands of weather stations across the U.S. This long-term approach helps gardeners make more accurate planting decisions by reducing the influence of one-off temperature anomalies or extreme weather events.

Why It Matters for Gardeners:

  • Stable, Reliable, Long-Term Guidance: Instead of reacting to temporary weather fluctuations, the 30-year average helps gardeners rely on consistent patterns, which is especially helpful for planting perennials and orchards that can live for decades.
  • Support for Climate Adaptation: With historical data, gardeners can detect how their region’s climate is evolving and adapt their gardening practices accordingly.
  • Informed Plant Selection: Understanding zones allows you to choose plants that are better adapted to your region. It reduces the need for special plant protection and care.

Climate Change and Zone Shifts

Climate change is gradually shifting USDA zones northward, meaning areas that were once too cold for certain plants may now support a broader range of species. This shift is most noticeable in the northern states, upper elevations, and transitional zones.

How to Respond as a Gardener:

  • Check for Zone Updates Every Few Years: The USDA occasionally updates the map. The last update in 2023 showed that many areas have warmed by about half a zone.
  • Select Resilient Plants: Incorporate varieties that are both heat- and drought-tolerant. Native plants and Mediterranean-style perennials like lavender and herbs like rosemary and thyme are good examples.
  • Leverage Microclimates: Urban areas, walls, slopes, and windbreaks can create pockets where you can grow plants normally outside your USDA zone.
  • Monitor Local Growing Patterns: Track and know your frost dates, shifts in bloom time, and pest activity—subtle but clear signs of climate change. Keeping a garden journal helps spot these changes over time.

FAQs About Growing Zones and Plant Hardiness

  • What is a growing zone or plant hardiness zone?
    • A growing zone (also called a planting zone or plant hardiness zone) is a regional classification system that helps gardeners understand which plants can survive based on average minimum temperatures over 30 years.
  • How do I find what agricultural zone I am in?
    • Use the growing zone map or plant hardiness zone map above and enter your zip code to find your USDA plant hardiness zone.
  • What do subzones, like 6a or 7b mean?
    • Each USDA zone is divided into "a" and "b" subzones, representing a 5°F difference in temperature range. For example, Zone 6a is colder than Zone 6b. These subdivisions give gardeners more specific guidance when choosing plants for their area.
  • Can I plant outside my zone?
    • You can try planting outside your designated zone, but it carries risks. Plants may not tolerate unexpected freezes or extreme summer temperatures. To succeed, consider using greenhouses, season extenders, or taking advantage of microclimates in your yard.
  • How does climate change affect my planting zone?
    • Climate change is gradually shifting gardening zones across the United States. Warmer winters can push zones northward, affecting the types of plants that will thrive. Stay informed by checking updated plant zone maps and adjust your garden with more heat- or drought-tolerant plants when necessary.
  • What role do weather stations play in zone creation?
    • Weather stations throughout the United States collect long-term temperature data that is used to update the USDA plant hardiness zone map. This data, averaged over 30 years, helps determine the most accurate gardening zone designations for each location.
  • Why is knowing my USDA zone important for perennial plants?
    • Perennial plants must survive year-round, especially through winter. Knowing your USDA zone ensures you're choosing plants that can tolerate the coldest temperatures in your region. This is critical when asking, "what is my gardening zone" or determining "what garden zone am I in" for long-term planting success.

Final Thoughts

Using tools like the plant hardiness zone map, gardeners can make smarter decisions about selecting plants, frost protection, and planning the growing season. With accurate data gathered over 30 years, the USDA plant hardiness zone system provides one of the most effective ways to predict plant survival in your region. 

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned gardener, knowing your zone is the first step toward a successful, resilient garden. You can also use our Seed Planting Calculator to help plan your planting schedule and make informed decisions based on your specific growing conditions.