Want to know what gardening zone you are in? Learning what gardening zone you are in can help you determine whats best for your garden.
Determining Your Gardening Zone | Homesteading Guide
Easily Find Out What Your Gardening Zone Is With This Complete Guide
Knowing and understanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) planting or hardiness zones you live in can make a huge difference in the success and failure of your garden. Planting vegetables, flowers and other plants that are suitable for your US growing zone will help you have a happy and healthy garden year after year.
Many factors affect which plant will flourish in a specific location. Heat, cold, elevation are just few that can have a big influence. The weather has become warmer than it used to be and in recognition to these changes of warming temperatures, the USDA revised its Plant Hardiness Zone Map in 2012.
Most gardeners are familiar with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Plant Hardiness Zone Map. The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map has now 13 gardening zones, and each zone has inched northward and is based on average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones. By using the map you can find the zone where you live in and you will be able to determine what plant will thrive in your garden for years.
To find out which gardening zone you are in, you can access the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture website and you can either enter your ZIP code or interactive GIS-based map for even precision and find the hardiness zone for your area.
Continue reading below for USDA plant hardiness zones for U.S. cities as based on the 2012 map and examples of plants that will thrive well in each zone.
1. Albuquerque, New Mexico – Zone 7b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Basil, bean, broccoli, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
2. Anchorage, Alaska – Zone 4b/5a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 4b – Basil, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, broccoli, onion, lettuce, radish, and tomato.
Zone 5a – Basil, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, bean, lettuce, onion, and tomato.
3. Atlanta, Georgia – Zone 7b/8a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7b – Basil, bean, broccoli, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
Zone 8a – Bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, lettuce, potato, rose, sweet pepper, tomato, and onion.
4. Baltimore, Maryland – Zone 7b/8a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7b – Basil, bean, broccoli, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
Zone 8a – Bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, lettuce, potato, rose, sweet pepper, tomato, and onion.
5. Boston, Massachusetts – Zone 6b/7a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6b – African Violet, basil, bean, chili pepper, daylily, cucumber, iris, tomato, sweet pepper, and daffodil.
Zone 7a – Bean, basil, broccoli, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, spinach, and tomato.
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6. Buffalo, New York – Zone 6a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6a – Basil, bean, cucumber, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, hybrid lily, tomato, and radish.
7. Burlington, Vermont – Zone 5a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 5a – Basil, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, bean, lettuce, onion, and tomato.
8. Charleston, West Virginia – Zone 6b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6b – African Violet, basil, bean, chili pepper, daylily, cucumber, iris, tomato, sweet pepper, and daffodil.
9. Chicago, Illinois – Zone 6a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6a – Basil, bean, cucumber, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, hybrid lily, tomato, and radish.
10. Charlotte, North Carolina – Zone 7b/8a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7b – Basil, bean, broccoli, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
Zone 8a – Bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, lettuce, potato, rose, sweet pepper, tomato, and onion.
11. Columbus, Ohio – Zone 6a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6a – Basil, bean, cucumber, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, hybrid lily, tomato, and radish.
12. Dallas, Texas – Zone 8a/8b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 8a – Bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, lettuce, potato, rose, sweet pepper, tomato, and onion.
Zone 8b – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, rose, lettuce, radish, and tomato.
13. Denver, Colorado – Zone 5b/6a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 5b – Basil, bean, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, daylily, hosta, cucumber, lettuce, and tomato.
Zone 6a – Basil, bean, cucumber, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, hybrid lily, tomato, and radish.
14. Detroit, Michigan – Zone 6b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6b – African Violet, basil, bean, chili pepper, daylily, cucumber, iris, tomato, sweet pepper, and daffodil.
15. Fairbanks, Alaska – Zone 2a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 2a – Beetroot, bean, basil, chili pepper, kale, onion, eggplant, lettuce, radish, and onion.
16. Hartford, Connecticut – Zone 6b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6b – African Violet, basil, bean, chili pepper, daylily, cucumber, iris, tomato, sweet pepper, and daffodil.
17. Honolulu, Hawaii – Zone 12b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 12b – Bean, beetroot, chard, cabbage, eggplant, cauliflower, pineapple, sweet pepper, carrot, and tomato.
18. Houston, Texas – Zone 9a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 9a – Basil, bean, beetroot, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, day lily, rose, tomato, and potato.
19. Indianapolis, Indiana – Zone 5b/6a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 5b – Basil, bean, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, daylily, hosta, cucumber, lettuce, and tomato.
Zone 6a – Basil, bean, cucumber, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, hybrid lily, tomato, and radish.
20. Las Vegas, Nevada – Zone 9a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 9a – Basil, bean, beetroot, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, day lily, rose, tomato, and potato.
21. Los Angeles, California – Zone 10a/10b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 10a – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, hosta, lettuce, rosemary, and tomato.
Zone 10b – Basil, bean, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, onion, tomato, cucumber, strawberry, and lettuce.
22. Memphis, Tennessee – Zone 7b/8a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7b – Basil, bean, broccoli, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
Zone 8a – Bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, lettuce, potato, rose, sweet pepper, tomato, and onion.
23. Miami, Florida – Zone 10b/11a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 10b – Basil, bean, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, onion, tomato, cucumber, strawberry, and lettuce.
Zone 11a – Basil, bean, cucumber, garlic, cauliflower, lily pilly, romaine lettuce, sweet potato, tuberose, and tomato.
24. Minneapolis, Minnesota – Zone 4b/5a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 4b – Basil, broccoli, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, onion, radish, tomato, and lettuce.
Zone 5a – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, onion, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, spinach, and tomato
25. Nashville, Tennessee – Zone 7a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7a – Bean, basil, broccoli, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, spinach, and tomato.
26. New Orleans, Louisiana – Zone 9b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 9b – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, rose, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
27. New York, New York – Zone 7a/7b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7a – Bean, basil, broccoli, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, spinach, and tomato
Zone 7b – Basil, bean, broccoli, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
28. Norfolk, Virginia – Zone 8a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 8a – Bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, lettuce, potato, rose, sweet pepper, tomato, and onion.
29. San Juan, Puerto Rico – Zone 12b/13a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 12b – Bean, beetroot, chard, carrot, cabbage, pineapple, sweet pepper, tomato, cauliflower, and eggplant.
Zone 13a – Aloe vera, corn mint, Korean mint, vanilla, flat leaf parsley, german chamomile, passion fruit, tomato, and naranjilla.
30. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – Zone 7a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7a – Bean, basil, broccoli, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, spinach, and tomato.
31. Omaha, Nebraska – Zone 5b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 5b – Basil, bean, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, daylily, hosta, cucumber, lettuce, and tomato.
32. Orlando, Florida – Zone 9b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 9b – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, rose, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
33. Owensboro, Kentucky – Zone 6b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6b – African Violet, basil, bean, chili pepper, daylily, cucumber, iris, tomato, sweet pepper, and daffodil.
34. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Zone 7a/7b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7a – Bean, basil, broccoli, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, spinach, and tomato.
Zone 7b – Basil, bean, broccoli, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
35. Phoenix, Arizona – Zone 9b/10a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 9b – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, rose, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
Zone 10a – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, hosta, lettuce, rosemary, and tomato.
36. Pierre, South Dakota – Zone 4b/5a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 4b – Basil, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, broccoli, onion, lettuce, radish, and tomato.
Zone 5a – Basil, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, bean, lettuce, onion, and tomato.
37. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Zone 6b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6b – African Violet, basil, bean, chili pepper, daylily, cucumber, iris, tomato, sweet pepper, and daffodil.
38. Portland, Maine – Zone 5b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 5b – Basil, bean, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, daylily, hosta, cucumber, lettuce, and tomato.
39. Portland, Oregon – Zone 8b/9a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 8b – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, rose, lettuce, radish, and tomato.
Zone 9a – Basil, bean, beetroot, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, day lily, rose, tomato, and potato.
40. Quad Cities, Iowa/Illinois – Zone 5b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 5b – Basil, bean, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, daylily, hosta, cucumber, lettuce, and tomato.
41. Raleigh, North Carolina -Zone 7b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7b – Basil, bean, broccoli, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
42. Reno, Nevada – Zone 6b/7a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6b – African Violet, basil, bean, chili pepper, daylily, cucumber, iris, tomato, sweet pepper, and daffodil.
Zone 7a – Bean, basil, broccoli, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, spinach, and tomato.
43. Roanoke, Virginia – Zone 7a/7b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7a – Bean, basil, broccoli, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, spinach, and tomato.
Zone 7b – Basil, bean, broccoli, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
44. Kansas City, Missouri- Zone 6a/6b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6a – Basil, bean, cucumber, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, hybrid lily, tomato, and radish.
Zone 6b – African Violet, basil, bean, chili pepper, daylily, cucumber, iris, tomato, sweet pepper, and daffodil.
45. Salt Lake City, Utah – Zone 7a/7b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7a – Bean, basil, broccoli, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, spinach, and tomato.
Zone 7b – Basil, bean, broccoli, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
46. San Antonio, Texas – Zone 8b/9a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 8b – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, rose, lettuce, radish, and tomato.
Zone 9a – Basil, bean, beetroot, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, day lily, rose, tomato, and potato.
47. San Diego, California – Zone 10a/10b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 10a – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, hosta, lettuce, rosemary, and tomato.
Zone 10b – Basil, bean, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, onion, tomato, cucumber, strawberry, and lettuce.
48. San Francisco, California – Zone 10a/10b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 10a – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, hosta, lettuce, rosemary, and tomato.
Zone 10b – Basil, bean, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, onion, tomato, cucumber, strawberry, and lettuce.
49. San Jose, California – Zone 9b/10a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 9b – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, rose, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
Zone 10a – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, hosta, lettuce, rosemary, and tomato.
50. Savannah, Georgia – Zone 8b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 8b – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, rose, lettuce, radish, and tomato.
51. Seattle, Washington – Zone 8b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 8b – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, rose, lettuce, radish, and tomato.
52. Tampa, Florida – Zone 9b/10a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 9b – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, rose, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
Zone 10a – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, sweet pepper, hosta, lettuce, rosemary, and tomato.
53. Tucson, Arizona – Zone 9a/9b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 9a – Basil, bean, beetroot, carrot, chili pepper, sweet pepper, day lily, rose, tomato, and potato.
Zone 9b – Basil, bean, carrot, cucumber, rose, chili pepper, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
54. Tuscaloosa, Alabama – Zone 8a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 8a – Bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, lettuce, potato, rose, sweet pepper, tomato, and onion.
55. Washington, D.C.- Zone 7b/8a
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 7b – Basil, bean, broccoli, carrot, chili pepper, cucumber, sweet pepper, lettuce, tomato, and spinach.
Zone 8a – Bean, carrot, cucumber, chili pepper, lettuce, potato, rose, sweet pepper, tomato, and onion.
56. Wichita, Kansas – Zone 6b
Popular plants that will grow well in this USDA Zone :
Zone 6b – African Violet, basil, bean, chili pepper, daylily, cucumber, iris, tomato, sweet pepper, and daffodil.
Wants to learn more about gardening zone? Let’s watch this video from Gary Love:
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