Not sure what planting zone you’re in? Use our USDA Plant Hardiness Zone lookup tool to find your zone by ZIP code and choose plants that thrive in your climate.
What Does Your Planting Zone Tell You?
The United States is divided into USDA Plant Hardiness Zones based on how cold it typically gets in winter. Your zone helps you choose plants that can survive those temperatures—especially perennials, trees, and shrubs that stay in the ground year after year.
You’ll notice that each zone includes a temperature range. This doesn’t mean plants will die the moment temperatures dip below that number. Instead, the range reflects the average coldest winter temperatures in an area over time, and helps gardeners compare how hardy different plants need to be.
How to Use Your Planting Zone in the Garden?
Once you know your planting zone, you can use it as a guide for planning your garden. Plant tags, seed catalogs, and growing guides often list hardiness zones, making it easier to choose plants suited to your climate. Our zone-based planting calendars are a helpful next step, offering month-by-month guidance on what to plant and when.
Gardening Near a Hardiness Zone Border
You may notice that nearby towns—or even neighboring ZIP codes—fall into a slightly warmer or colder hardiness zone. This is normal. Local conditions such as elevation, wind exposure, urban heat, and proximity to water can all affect how cold your garden gets in winter. When in doubt, choose plants rated for the colder zone, or take steps to protect more tender plants.
Frequently Asked Questions About USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
What planting zone am I in?
You can find your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone by entering your ZIP code in the lookup tool above.
Your zone is based on the average coldest winter temperatures in your area.
What is a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone?
A USDA Plant Hardiness Zone is a geographic area defined by how cold it typically gets in winter.
Gardeners use these zones to choose plants—especially perennials, trees, and shrubs—that can survive local winter conditions.
Do planting zones affect annual plants?
Planting zones mainly apply to perennials, trees, and shrubs. Annual plants usually complete their life cycle in one season, but planting zones can still help guide planting timing and frost protection.
Can I grow plants outside my hardiness zone?
Yes, it’s possible to grow plants outside your zone with extra care. Using microclimates, winter protection, containers, or choosing sheltered planting locations can help tender plants survive.
Why do nearby areas sometimes have different planting zones?
Factors such as elevation, wind exposure, urban heat, and proximity to water can affect winter temperatures.
This is why neighboring ZIP codes may fall into different USDA hardiness zones.
Learn more about planting and hardiness zones
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