USDA hardiness zones in Virginia
| Zone | Avg. extreme minimum | ZIP codes | Example cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6a | −10 to −5°F | 6 | — |
| Zone 6b | −5 to 0°F | 37 | — |
| Zone 7a | 0 to 5°F | 336 | Harrisonburg, Blacksburg, Manassas, Winchester |
| Zone 7b | 5 to 10°F | 363 | Richmond, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Leesburg |
| Zone 8a | 10 to 15°F | 127 | Chesapeake, Newport News, Alexandria, Suffolk |
| Zone 8b | 15 to 20°F | 47 | Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Hampton, Portsmouth |
Growing zone and frost dates by city
| City | Zone | Frost dates |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Virginia Beach frost dates |
| Chesapeake | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Chesapeake frost dates |
| Richmond | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Richmond frost dates |
| Norfolk | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Norfolk frost dates |
| Newport News | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Newport News frost dates |
| Alexandria | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Alexandria frost dates |
| Hampton | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Hampton frost dates |
| Suffolk | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Suffolk frost dates |
| Roanoke | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Roanoke frost dates |
| Portsmouth | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Portsmouth frost dates |
| Lynchburg | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Lynchburg frost dates |
| Harrisonburg | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Harrisonburg frost dates |
| Leesburg | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Leesburg frost dates |
| Blacksburg | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Blacksburg frost dates |
| Charlottesville | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Charlottesville frost dates |
| Manassas | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Manassas frost dates |
| Danville | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Danville frost dates |
| Petersburg | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Petersburg frost dates |
| Fredericksburg | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Fredericksburg frost dates |
| Winchester | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Winchester frost dates |
| Staunton | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Staunton frost dates |
| Fairfax | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Fairfax frost dates |
| Salem | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Salem frost dates |
| Herndon | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Herndon frost dates |
| Waynesboro | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Waynesboro frost dates |
| Hopewell | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Hopewell frost dates |
| Christiansburg | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Christiansburg frost dates |
| Culpeper | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Culpeper frost dates |
| Colonial Heights | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Colonial Heights frost dates |
| Radford | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Radford frost dates |
| Vienna | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Vienna frost dates |
| Manassas Park | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Manassas Park frost dates |
| Bristol | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Bristol frost dates |
| Williamsburg | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Williamsburg frost dates |
| Front Royal | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Front Royal frost dates |
| Falls Church | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Falls Church frost dates |
| Martinsville | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Martinsville frost dates |
| Poquoson | 8b (15 to 20°F) | Poquoson frost dates |
| Warrenton | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Warrenton frost dates |
| Smithfield | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Smithfield frost dates |
| Purcellville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Purcellville frost dates |
| Pulaski | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Pulaski frost dates |
| Franklin | 8a (10 to 15°F) | Franklin frost dates |
| Abingdon | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Abingdon frost dates |
| Wytheville | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Wytheville frost dates |
| Ashland | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Ashland frost dates |
| Vinton | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Vinton frost dates |
| Bedford | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Bedford frost dates |
| South Boston | 7b (5 to 10°F) | South Boston frost dates |
| Lexington | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Lexington frost dates |
| Farmville | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Farmville frost dates |
| Strasburg | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Strasburg frost dates |
| Bridgewater | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Bridgewater frost dates |
| Buena Vista | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Buena Vista frost dates |
| Galax | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Galax frost dates |
| Dumfries | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Dumfries frost dates |
| Woodstock | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Woodstock frost dates |
| Covington | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Covington frost dates |
| Marion | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Marion frost dates |
| Emporia | 7b (5 to 10°F) | Emporia frost dates |
| Orange | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Orange frost dates |
| Big Stone Gap | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Big Stone Gap frost dates |
| Richlands | 7a (0 to 5°F) | Richlands frost dates |
Frequently asked questions
What growing zone is Virginia in?
Virginia’s ZIP codes span USDA zones 6a to 8b, 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 Virginia frost dates page.