USDA hardiness zones in Maryland
| Zone | Avg. extreme minimum | ZIP codes | Example cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6a | −10 to −5°F | 13 | — |
| Zone 6b | −5 to 0°F | 8 | Frostburg |
| Zone 7a | 0 to 5°F | 85 | Bowie, Hagerstown, Westminster, Cumberland |
| Zone 7b | 5 to 10°F | 275 | Frederick, Gaithersburg, Rockville, College Park |
| Zone 8a | 10 to 15°F | 109 | Baltimore, Annapolis, Easton, Cambridge |
Growing zone and frost dates by city
| City | Zone | Frost dates |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Baltimore frost dates |
| Frederick | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Frederick frost dates |
| Gaithersburg | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Gaithersburg frost dates |
| Rockville | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Rockville frost dates |
| Bowie | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Bowie frost dates |
| Hagerstown | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Hagerstown frost dates |
| Annapolis | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Annapolis frost dates |
| College Park | 7b (5 to 10°F) | College Park frost dates |
| Salisbury | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Salisbury frost dates |
| Laurel | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Laurel frost dates |
| Greenbelt | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Greenbelt frost dates |
| Hyattsville | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Hyattsville frost dates |
| Westminster | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Westminster frost dates |
| Cumberland | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Cumberland frost dates |
| Aberdeen | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Aberdeen frost dates |
| Easton | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Easton frost dates |
| Takoma Park | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Takoma Park frost dates |
| Elkton | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Elkton frost dates |
| Havre de Grace | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Havre de Grace frost dates |
| New Carrollton | 7b (5 to 10°F) | New Carrollton frost dates |
| Cambridge | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Cambridge frost dates |
| La Plata | 7b (5 to 10°F) | La Plata frost dates |
| Bel Air | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Bel Air frost dates |
| Mount Airy | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Mount Airy frost dates |
| Bladensburg | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Bladensburg frost dates |
| Brunswick | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Brunswick frost dates |
| Mount Rainier | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Mount Rainier frost dates |
| Taneytown | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Taneytown frost dates |
| Riverdale Park | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Riverdale Park frost dates |
| Frostburg | 6b (−5 to 0°F) | Frostburg frost dates |
| Ocean City | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Ocean City frost dates |
| Walkersville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Walkersville frost dates |
| Chesapeake Beach | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Chesapeake Beach frost dates |
| Glenarden | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Glenarden frost dates |
| Thurmont | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Thurmont frost dates |
| Hampstead | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Hampstead frost dates |
| Cheverly | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Cheverly frost dates |
| Fruitland | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Fruitland frost dates |
| Poolesville | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Poolesville frost dates |
| District Heights | 7b (5 to 10°F) | District Heights frost dates |
| Chestertown | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Chestertown frost dates |
| Manchester | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Manchester frost dates |
| Berlin | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Berlin frost dates |
| Denton | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Denton frost dates |
| Middletown | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Middletown frost dates |
| Leonardtown | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Leonardtown frost dates |
Frequently asked questions
What growing zone is Maryland in?
Maryland’s ZIP codes span USDA zones 6a to 8a, and 7b is the most common. Zones vary with elevation and distance from water, so check your own ZIP code.
When should I plant?
Hardiness zones are about winter cold, not planting dates. For timing, use the last spring frost date for your city on our Maryland frost dates page.