USDA hardiness zones in North Carolina
| Zone | Avg. extreme minimum | ZIP codes | Example cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6b | −5 to 0°F | 10 | — |
| Zone 7a | 0 to 5°F | 63 | Boone, Waynesville, Black Mountain, Brevard |
| Zone 7b | 5 to 10°F | 139 | Asheville, Clemmons, Lexington, Morganton |
| Zone 8a | 10 to 15°F | 469 | Charlotte, Raleigh, Greensboro, Durham |
| Zone 8b | 15 to 20°F | 144 | Wilmington, Jacksonville, Leland, Goldsboro |
| Zone 9a | 20 to 25°F | 20 | Kill Devil Hills |
Growing zone and frost dates by city
| City | Zone | Frost dates |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Charlotte frost dates |
| Raleigh | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Raleigh frost dates |
| Greensboro | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Greensboro frost dates |
| Durham | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Durham frost dates |
| Winston-Salem | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Winston-Salem frost dates |
| Fayetteville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Fayetteville frost dates |
| Cary | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Cary frost dates |
| Wilmington | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Wilmington frost dates |
| High Point | 8a (10 to 15°F) | High Point frost dates |
| Concord | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Concord frost dates |
| Greenville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Greenville frost dates |
| Asheville | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Asheville frost dates |
| Gastonia | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Gastonia frost dates |
| Apex | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Apex frost dates |
| Jacksonville | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Jacksonville frost dates |
| Huntersville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Huntersville frost dates |
| Chapel Hill | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Chapel Hill frost dates |
| Kannapolis | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Kannapolis frost dates |
| Burlington | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Burlington frost dates |
| Wake Forest | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Wake Forest frost dates |
| Mooresville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Mooresville frost dates |
| Rocky Mount | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Rocky Mount frost dates |
| Holly Springs | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Holly Springs frost dates |
| Wilson | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Wilson frost dates |
| Fuquay-Varina | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Fuquay-Varina frost dates |
| Hickory | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Hickory frost dates |
| Indian Trail | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Indian Trail frost dates |
| Monroe | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Monroe frost dates |
| Garner | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Garner frost dates |
| Salisbury | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Salisbury frost dates |
| Leland | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Leland frost dates |
| Cornelius | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Cornelius frost dates |
| Goldsboro | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Goldsboro frost dates |
| New Bern | 8b (15 to 20°F) | New Bern frost dates |
| Sanford | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Sanford frost dates |
| Matthews | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Matthews frost dates |
| Clayton | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Clayton frost dates |
| Morrisville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Morrisville frost dates |
| Statesville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Statesville frost dates |
| Mint Hill | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Mint Hill frost dates |
| Kernersville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Kernersville frost dates |
| Asheboro | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Asheboro frost dates |
| Thomasville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Thomasville frost dates |
| Shelby | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Shelby frost dates |
| Knightdale | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Knightdale frost dates |
| Waxhaw | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Waxhaw frost dates |
| Clemmons | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Clemmons frost dates |
| Mebane | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Mebane frost dates |
| Carrboro | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Carrboro frost dates |
| Harrisburg | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Harrisburg frost dates |
| Lexington | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Lexington frost dates |
| Graham | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Graham frost dates |
| Boone | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Boone frost dates |
| Kinston | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Kinston frost dates |
| Wendell | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Wendell frost dates |
| Elizabeth City | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Elizabeth City frost dates |
| Mount Holly | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Mount Holly frost dates |
| Lumberton | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Lumberton frost dates |
| Pinehurst | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Pinehurst frost dates |
| Lenoir | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Lenoir frost dates |
| Hope Mills | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Hope Mills frost dates |
| Morganton | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Morganton frost dates |
| Albemarle | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Albemarle frost dates |
| Stallings | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Stallings frost dates |
| Havelock | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Havelock frost dates |
| Southern Pines | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Southern Pines frost dates |
| Davidson | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Davidson frost dates |
| Belmont | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Belmont frost dates |
| Hendersonville | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Hendersonville frost dates |
| Eden | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Eden frost dates |
| Henderson | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Henderson frost dates |
| Reidsville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Reidsville frost dates |
| Laurinburg | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Laurinburg frost dates |
| Weddington | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Weddington frost dates |
| Lewisville | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Lewisville frost dates |
| Roanoke Rapids | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Roanoke Rapids frost dates |
| Newton | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Newton frost dates |
| Smithfield | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Smithfield frost dates |
| Rolesville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Rolesville frost dates |
| Lincolnton | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Lincolnton frost dates |
| Archdale | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Archdale frost dates |
| Kings Mountain | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Kings Mountain frost dates |
| Zebulon | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Zebulon frost dates |
| Pineville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Pineville frost dates |
| Elon | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Elon frost dates |
| Summerfield | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Summerfield frost dates |
| Spring Lake | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Spring Lake frost dates |
| Waynesville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Waynesville frost dates |
| Tarboro | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Tarboro frost dates |
| Winterville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Winterville frost dates |
| Mount Airy | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Mount Airy frost dates |
| Morehead City | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Morehead City frost dates |
| Aberdeen | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Aberdeen frost dates |
| Washington | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Washington frost dates |
| Gibsonville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Gibsonville frost dates |
| Hillsborough | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Hillsborough frost dates |
| Wesley Chapel | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Wesley Chapel frost dates |
| Angier | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Angier frost dates |
| Oak Island | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Oak Island frost dates |
| Oxford | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Oxford frost dates |
| Conover | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Conover frost dates |
| Rockingham | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Rockingham frost dates |
| Dunn | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Dunn frost dates |
| Black Mountain | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Black Mountain frost dates |
| Clinton | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Clinton frost dates |
| Roxboro | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Roxboro frost dates |
| Fletcher | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Fletcher frost dates |
| Woodfin | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Woodfin frost dates |
| Siler City | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Siler City frost dates |
| Butner | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Butner frost dates |
| Brevard | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Brevard frost dates |
| King | 7b (5 to 10°F) | King frost dates |
| Oak Ridge | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Oak Ridge frost dates |
| Kill Devil Hills | 9a (20 to 25°F) | Kill Devil Hills frost dates |
| Mills River | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Mills River frost dates |
| Marion | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Marion frost dates |
| Forest City | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Forest City frost dates |
| Selma | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Selma frost dates |
| Unionville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Unionville frost dates |
| St. James | 8b (15 to 20°F) | St. James frost dates |
| Trinity | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Trinity frost dates |
| Marvin | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Marvin frost dates |
| Boiling Spring Lakes | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Boiling Spring Lakes frost dates |
| Carolina Beach | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Carolina Beach frost dates |
| Cherryville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Cherryville frost dates |
| Dallas | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Dallas frost dates |
| Mocksville | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Mocksville frost dates |
| Stokesdale | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Stokesdale frost dates |
| Locust | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Locust frost dates |
| Walkertown | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Walkertown frost dates |
| Nashville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Nashville frost dates |
| Holly Ridge | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Holly Ridge frost dates |
| Hamlet | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Hamlet frost dates |
| Bessemer City | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Bessemer City frost dates |
| Cramerton | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Cramerton frost dates |
| Archer Lodge | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Archer Lodge frost dates |
| Carolina Shores | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Carolina Shores frost dates |
| Whispering Pines | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Whispering Pines frost dates |
| Long View | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Long View frost dates |
| Shallotte | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Shallotte frost dates |
| Ayden | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Ayden frost dates |
| Pleasant Garden | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Pleasant Garden frost dates |
| Midland | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Midland frost dates |
| Surf City | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Surf City frost dates |
| Sawmills | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Sawmills frost dates |
| Midway | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Midway frost dates |
| Williamston | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Williamston frost dates |
| Pittsboro | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Pittsboro frost dates |
| Creedmoor | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Creedmoor frost dates |
| Lillington | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Lillington frost dates |
| Wadesboro | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Wadesboro frost dates |
Frequently asked questions
What growing zone is North Carolina in?
North Carolina’s ZIP codes span USDA zones 6b to 9a, and 8a 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 North Carolina frost dates page.