United States Hardiness Zones

The ‘USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map’ outlines the different zones in which various types of trees, shrubs and plants will most likely survive. It is based on average extreme low temperatures over a 30 year period—not just the lowest temperature ever reached at any given time. Gardeners should understand that this map is a guide only – not a guarantee of gardening success, as climatic conditions are constantly changing and there are many other factors that can affect the success and failure of plants.

This map is an excellent starting point however if you are wondering if a certain plant will generally over-winter (survive the coolest temperatures). As well as using this map for reference, we recommend consulting other gardeners who have ‘hands-on’ experience of weather and gardening patterns in your area.

Along with year-to-year variations in weather, microclimates can also play a role in determining the right plants for your garden. Microclimates, which are small areas of varying weather conditions within larger zones, can be caused by local geography of the area such as hills and valleys as well as variations of solar and wind exposure. Even buildings and pavement in urban areas can create relatively small microclimates that can potentially produce different gardening results.


United States Frost Dates

Frost dates are arranged by region and include the first frost date of the season and the final frost date of the season. This simply means a period of time where you can safely set your plants out in your garden ensuring them with optimal growing temperatures during both day and night.

These frost dates reflect the average frost date for a region and may not be reliable in a particular year. You may want to check with local gardeners for more accurate frost date information.

Alabama – Indiana

Alabama

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Birmingham April 23 October 23
Dayton April 18 October 16
Mobile March 29 October 30
Ozark April 10 October 25
Thomasville April 19 October 18
Tuscaloosa April 20 October 15

Alaska

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Barrow August 3 July 30
Beaver Falls June 2 September 29
Fairbanks June 21 August 14
Juneau June 20 August 23
Ketchikan May 29 September 25
Nome July 24 August 2
Seward June 6 September 8

Arkansas

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Batesville May 15 September 29
Fayetteville May 9 November 29
Fort Smith April 28 October 6
Hot Springs April 21 October 18
Newport April 23 October 8
Pine Bluff April 16 October 14
Texarkana April 22 October 22

Arizona

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Flagstaff July 3 August 16
Holbrook June 16 September 13
Phoenix March 23 November 9
Snowflake June 20 September 13
Tucson April 17 November 5
Yuma March 11 November 21

California

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Auburn May 13 October 30
Berkeley March 5 December 1
Chico May 7 October 19
Eureka April 25 November 5
Fresno April 27 November 27
Lodi May 2 October 18
Palm Springs April 7 November 6
Pasadena April 4 November 21
Sacramento April 28 November 2
San Francisco March 20 November 20
San Luis Obispo May 8 November 1
UCLA January 3 January 1

Colorado

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Boulder May 31 September 12
Denver June 1 September 10
Durango July 1 August 24
Estes Park July 19 August 11
Las Animas May 25 September 15
Norwood June 28 August 20
Steamboat Springs August 2 July 31
Sterling May 30 September 5

Connecticut

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Panbury June 1 September 14
Hartford Brainard May 25 September 15
Mount Carmel May 29 September 15
Norfolk June 11 September 9
Norwalk May 24 September 21
Storrs May 29 September 20
W. Thompson Dam June 14 August 20

Delaware

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Bridgeville May 10 September 26
Dover May 6 October 5
Georgetown May 18 September 24
Lewes May 4 October 6
Milford May 14 September 25
Wilmington May 10 October 3
Wheaton June 1 September 16
Windsor May 20 September 22

Florida

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Fort Pierce March 3 December 5
Gainesville April 5 October 30
Jacksonville Beach March 24 November 8
Miami February 7 December 30
Sanford March 14 November 16
Tallahassee April 12 October 20
Tampa March 11 November 15

Georgia

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Athens April 21 October 14
Augusta April 26 October 12
Brunswick March 31 November 5
Columbus April 16 October 20
Macon April 14 October 14
Savannah April 11 October 26
Waycross April 22 October 15

Hawaii

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Haleakala June 16 October 15
Hilo none none
Lahaina none none
Lihue none none

Idaho

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Boise June 9 September 13
Kellogg July 4 August 23
Moscow July 23 August 14
Pocatello June 25 August 24
Salmon July 12 August 19
Sandpoint July 8 August 19
Shoshone June 25 August 31

Illinois

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Cairo April 16 October 21
Chicago May 17 September 30
Peoria May 23 September 25
Rockford May 26 September 19
Springfield May 16 September 27
Wheaton June 1 September 16
Windsor May 20 September 22

Indiana

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Columbia City May 25 September 15
Evansville May 10 October 4
Hobart  May 31 September 24
Indianapolis May 19 September 28
Mount Vernon May 9 October 1
Princeton May 15 September 29
South Bend May 27 September 20
Terre Haute May 23 September 23

Iowa – Mississippi

Iowa

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Ames May 22 September 15
Cedar Rapids May 25 September 16
Clarinda May 7 September 12
Davenport May 10 September 29
Le Mars May 31 September 9
Mason City May 30 September 9
Ottumwa May 14 September 26

Kansas

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Dodge City May 11 September 29
Goodland May 27 September 13
Newton May 11 September 29
Phillipsburg May 19 September 18
Salina May 13 September 28
Topeka May 15 September 23
Troy May 15 September 23

Kentucky

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Bowling Green May 11 October 2
Ford's Ferry April 30 October 7
Lexington May 13 September 30
Middlesboro May 23 September 25
Owensboro May 11 September 26
Paducah May 7 October 4
Vanceburg May 31 September 21

Louisiana

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Alexandria April 5 October 21
Bastrop April 13 October 18
Bunkie April 2 October 22
Elizabeth April 10 October 15
Houma March 24 October 30
Lafayette April 27 October 26
New Orleans April 4 October 30

Maine

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Houlton July 3 August 25
Lewiston April 23 September 19
Portland June 4 September 8
Presque Isle. June 18 August 23
Ripogenus June 16 September 7
Rumford June 14 September 5
Waterville June 9 September 6

Maryland

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Baltimore City April 21 October 19
Cambridge May 6 September 30
Crisfield Somers Cove April 18 October 19
Hagerstown April 18 September 22
Laurel May 5 October 5
Pocomoke City May 22 September 23
Salisbury May 9 September 30

Massachusetts

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Amherst June 8 September 2
Birch Hill Dam June 25 August 14
Blue Hill May 18 September 23
Haverhill May 23 September 18
New Bedford May 3 October 10
Rochester June 1 September 13
Worchester May 23 September 21

Michigan

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Cheboygan June 11 September 15
Evart June 29 August 13
Lansing June 8 September 9
Marquette June 5 September 19
Muskegon June 4 September 9
Pontiac May 31 September 18
Sault Ste Marie June 23 August 29
Traverse City June 22 September 6

Minnesota

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Canby May 30 September 8
Duluth June 22 August 27
Faribault June 2 September 8
Hallock June 15 August 27
Intnl Falls June 30 August 21
Marshall May 24 September 12
Warroad June 16 August 21

Mississippi

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Biloxi March 27 October 31
Columbus April 21 October 7
Gulfport March 27 October 27
Holly Springs April 30 October 2
Meridian April 17 October 10
Natchez April 12 October 21
Yazoo City April 15 October 10

Missouri – Oregon

Missouri

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Canton May 14 September 22
Charleston May 4 October 2
Jefferson City May 22 September 20
Joplin May 5 October 4
Maryville May 12 September 24
Macon May 21 September 14
Maryville May 1 October 2

Montana

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Montana
Billings June 10 September 1
Bozeman June 3 July 30
Brady Aznde July 21 August 12
Chinook June 19 August 22
Choteau June 27 August 26
Helena June 23 August 25
Libby August 3 August 3

Nebraska

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Ainsworth  May 31 September 10
Falls City May 9 September 25
Grand Island May 21 September 12
North Platte  June 1 September 4
Scottsbluff  June 4 September 4
York May 18 September 18

Nevada

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Boulder City April 9 November 10
Carson City July 8 August 18
Ely July 14 August 13
Las Vegas April 19 October 31
Reno July 9 August 12
Wells July 21 August 5
Winnemucca July 9 August 12

New Hampshire

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Concord June 21 August 21
Hanover June 13 September 9
Keene June 19 August 24
Lake Port  May 26 September 18
Mt. Washington August 3 July 31
Nashua June 15 September 1
Surry Mountain June 18 August 25

New Jersey

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Hammonton May 19 September 23
Jersey City April 30 October 9
Millville May 13 September 27
Newark April 26 October 13
Newton June 6 September 9
Shiloh May 12 October 2
Trenton April 29 October 11

New Mexico

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Aztec Ruins Nat. Mon. June 18 September 8
Carlsbad Caverns April 27 October 18
Fort Sumner May 15 September 28
Las Vegas June 3 September 15
Lordsburg May 25 October 11
Socorro May 22 September 27
Springer June 8 September 12

New York

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Albany June 5 September 12
Dannemora June 6 September 11
Elmira April 26 September 8
New York May 28 October 19
Syracuse June 4 September 18
Watertown May 18 September 13

North Carolina

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Elizabeth City May 2 October 11
Greensboro May 12 October 5
Hickory May 7 October 4
Lumberton May 10 October 5
Morehead City April 17 October 22
Raleigh May 11 October 6
Waynesville May 31 September 20

North Dakota

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Cavalier June 11 August 27
Jamestown June 9 August 28
Linton June 27 August 28
Minot June 8 August 29
New Salem June 21 August 17
Wahpeton May 31 September 6

Ohio

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Akron May 29 September 26
Athens June 8 September 10
Cinicinnati May 12 October 1
Columbus May 23 September 23
Dayton May 19 September 26
Lima May 24 September 15
Sandusky May 10 October 2
Youngstown June 6 September 17

Oklahoma

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Boise City May 9 September 21
Chattanooga April 29 October 10
Idabel April 24 October 12
Kingfisher May 6 October 6
Lawton April 24 October 13
Perry May 1 October 7
Tulsa April 27 October 13

Oregon

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Brookings May 6 October 28
Condon July 11 August 16
Eugene June 10 September 15
Grizzly August 6 July 30
Newport May 30 September 27
Pendleton May 23 August 22
Portland May 15 October 3

Pennsylvania – Wyoming

Pennsylvania

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Allentown May 19 September 22
Gettysburg May 19 September 23
Johnstown May 16 September 16
Pendelton May 23 September 22
Portland May 15 October 3
Meadville June 8 September 11
Williamsport May 21 September 19

Rhode Island

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Block Island May 9 October 13
Kingston June 5 September 8

South Carolina

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Anderson April 26 October 9
Beaufort April 13 October 26
Charleston City March 28 November 9
Chester May 8 October 7
Columbia April 29 October 13
Union May 16 October 3
Winnsbotle May 2 October 11

South Dakota

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Castlewood June 23 August 29
Custer July 20 August 7
Gettysburg June 4 September 5
Huron June 4 September 4
Mobridge May 30 September 9
Rapid City June 9 September 8
Sioux Falls June 4 September 10

Tennessee

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Chattanooga April 3 October 9
Knoxville April 22 October 13
Martin May 4 October 3
Memphis April 16 October 18
Nashville April 30 October 7
Tullahoma May 12 October 3
Union City May 11 September 28

Texas

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Austin March 31 November 1
Brownsville March 7 November 24
Corpus Christi March 9 November 23
Denton April 20 October 19
Galveston March 15 November 21
Lubbock May 5 October 8
Pecos April 25 October 11
San Antonio April 10 October 27

Utah

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Black Rock June 2 August 20
Cedar City June 22 September 5
Logan June 5 September 13
Nephi June 16 September 9
Vernal June 25 August 19
Wendover May 19 September 26

Vermont

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Bellows Falls June 10 September 10
Burlington June 8 September 7
Chelsea June 15 August 6
Dorset June 27 August 26
Montpelier June 24 September 2
Newport June 13 September 4

Virginia

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Bedford May 14 September 24
Burkes Garden June 24 August 29
Lexington May 26 September 23
Lynchburg May 11 October 2
Norfolk April 23 October 20
Richmond May 7 October 2
Winchester May 20 September 22

Washington

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Bellingham June 15 September 4
Davenport July 21 August 19
Longview June 3 September 29
Seattle May 14 October 10
Spokane June 6 September 7
Vancouver June 1 October 11
Walla Walla May 2 October 4

West Virginia

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Beckley June 13 August 31
Elkins June 10 September 21
Fairmont June 1 September 19
Hamlin May 30 September 20
Martinsburg May 21 September 17
Parkersburg May 18 September 23
Wheeling May 20 September 27

Wisconsin

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Ashland June 28 August 22
Green Bay June 9 September 10
Janesville May 27 September 16
La Crosse May 25 September 17
Milwaukee June 1 September 17
Wausau June 5 September 9

Wyoming

StationLast FrostFirst Frost
Casper June 20 August 28
Dixon July 13 August 12
Jackson August 3 July 31
Laramie July 8 August 14
Powell June 10 September 3
Rock Springs June 29 August 23
Sheridan June 29 August 29