USDA hardiness zones in South Carolina
| Zone | Avg. extreme minimum | ZIP codes | Example cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 8a | 10 to 15°F | 171 | Rock Hill, Greenville, Greer, Spartanburg |
| Zone 8b | 15 to 20°F | 204 | Columbia, Summerville, Goose Creek, Sumter |
| Zone 9a | 20 to 25°F | 39 | Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Bluffton |
| Zone 9b | 25 to 30°F | 3 | Hilton Head Island |
Growing zone and frost dates by city
| City | Zone | Frost dates |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston | 9a (20 to 25°F) | Charleston frost dates |
| Columbia | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Columbia frost dates |
| North Charleston | 9a (20 to 25°F) | North Charleston frost dates |
| Mount Pleasant | 9a (20 to 25°F) | Mount Pleasant frost dates |
| Rock Hill | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Rock Hill frost dates |
| Greenville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Greenville frost dates |
| Summerville | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Summerville frost dates |
| Goose Creek | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Goose Creek frost dates |
| Greer | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Greer frost dates |
| Sumter | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Sumter frost dates |
| Florence | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Florence frost dates |
| Myrtle Beach | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Myrtle Beach frost dates |
| Spartanburg | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Spartanburg frost dates |
| Fort Mill | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Fort Mill frost dates |
| Hilton Head Island | 9b (25 to 30°F) | Hilton Head Island frost dates |
| Bluffton | 9a (20 to 25°F) | Bluffton frost dates |
| Aiken | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Aiken frost dates |
| Mauldin | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Mauldin frost dates |
| Anderson | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Anderson frost dates |
| Conway | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Conway frost dates |
| Simpsonville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Simpsonville frost dates |
| Easley | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Easley frost dates |
| North Augusta | 8b (15 to 20°F) | North Augusta frost dates |
| Lexington | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Lexington frost dates |
| Greenwood | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Greenwood frost dates |
| Hanahan | 9a (20 to 25°F) | Hanahan frost dates |
| North Myrtle Beach | 8b (15 to 20°F) | North Myrtle Beach frost dates |
| Moncks Corner | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Moncks Corner frost dates |
| Clemson | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Clemson frost dates |
| West Columbia | 8b (15 to 20°F) | West Columbia frost dates |
| Port Royal | 9a (20 to 25°F) | Port Royal frost dates |
| Hardeeville | 9a (20 to 25°F) | Hardeeville frost dates |
| Beaufort | 9a (20 to 25°F) | Beaufort frost dates |
| Fountain Inn | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Fountain Inn frost dates |
| Tega Cay | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Tega Cay frost dates |
| Cayce | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Cayce frost dates |
| Orangeburg | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Orangeburg frost dates |
| James Island | 9a (20 to 25°F) | James Island frost dates |
| Gaffney | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Gaffney frost dates |
| Irmo | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Irmo frost dates |
| Newberry | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Newberry frost dates |
| York | 8a (10 to 15°F) | York frost dates |
| Forest Acres | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Forest Acres frost dates |
| Lancaster | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Lancaster frost dates |
| Seneca | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Seneca frost dates |
| Laurens | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Laurens frost dates |
| Camden | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Camden frost dates |
| Travelers Rest | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Travelers Rest frost dates |
| Georgetown | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Georgetown frost dates |
| Union | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Union frost dates |
| Clinton | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Clinton frost dates |
| Clover | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Clover frost dates |
| Bennettsville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Bennettsville frost dates |
| Hartsville | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Hartsville frost dates |
| Blythewood | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Blythewood frost dates |
| Lyman | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Lyman frost dates |
| Dillon | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Dillon frost dates |
| Darlington | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Darlington frost dates |
| Marion | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Marion frost dates |
| Woodruff | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Woodruff frost dates |
| Lake City | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Lake City frost dates |
| Hollywood | 9a (20 to 25°F) | Hollywood frost dates |
| Walterboro | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Walterboro frost dates |
| Batesburg-Leesville | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Batesburg-Leesville frost dates |
| Chester | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Chester frost dates |
| Central | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Central frost dates |
Frequently asked questions
What growing zone is South Carolina in?
South Carolina’s ZIP codes span USDA zones 8a to 9b, and 8b 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 South Carolina frost dates page.