What Planting Zones Are in Georgia?
Georgia spans USDA hardiness zones 7a to 9a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from 0 °F to 25 °F (−17.8 °C to −3.9 °C). Zone 8a covers the most ZIP codes, 41%, and zones 8a to 9a together cover 97% of the state.
- Zone 7a<1% · 1 ZIP
- Zone 7b3% · 26 ZIPs
- Zone 8a41% · 381 ZIPs
- Zone 8b34% · 318 ZIPs
- Zone 9a23% · 211 ZIPs
Bars show each zone's share of the 937 Georgia ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Georgia Cities In?
Atlanta is in zone 8a, Columbus is in zone 8b, Augusta is in zone 8b and Macon is in zone 8b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 Georgia cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 30314 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 24 | Nov 8 |
| Columbus | 31907 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 21 | Nov 11 |
| Augusta | 30812 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
| Macon | 31206 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 21 | Nov 10 |
| Savannah | 31405 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Mar 2 | Nov 30 |
| Athens | 30602 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 23 | Nov 10 |
| South Fulton | 30349 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 15 | Nov 20 |
| Sandy Springs | 30328 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 25 | Nov 9 |
| Roswell | 30076 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 25 | Nov 9 |
| Warner Robins | 31088 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 11 | Nov 19 |
| Albany | 31701 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Mar 10 | Nov 20 |
| Stonecrest | 30038 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 31 | Nov 6 |
| Valdosta | 31698 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Mar 5 | Nov 27 |
| Gainesville | 30501 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 27 | Nov 12 |
| Newnan | 30265 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 26 | Nov 6 |
| Rome | 30161 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 1 | Nov 3 |
| Canton | 30114 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Apr 2 | Nov 4 |
| Hinesville | 31313 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Mar 5 | Nov 29 |
Zone: 2023 USDA ZIP code table for the ZIP code nearest each city's Census center point. Frost dates: 50% (median) dates from the nearest NOAA station, 1991–2020 normals. Cities: the largest Georgia places by 2024 Census population estimates, spread across the state, plus the largest place in each common zone. Large cities can span two half zones.
Which Parts of Georgia Are in Each Zone?
Zone 7b, the coldest Georgia zone with towns, covers 3% of ZIP codes around Cleveland, Trenton and Clayton. Zone 9a, the warmest, covers 23% around Savannah, Albany and Valdosta. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | <1% (1) | Rural ZIP codes only |
| Zone 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | 3% (26) | Cleveland, Trenton, Clayton, Ellijay |
| Zone 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | 41% (381) | Atlanta, South Fulton, Sandy Springs, Roswell |
| Zone 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | 34% (318) | Columbus, Augusta, Macon, Athens |
| Zone 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | 23% (211) | Savannah, Albany, Valdosta, Hinesville |
Places: incorporated places with 1,000+ residents, assigned the zone of the ZIP code nearest their Census center point.
What Do the Hardiness Zones Mean for Georgia Gardeners?
A Georgia gardener in zone 9a sees winter lows about 20 °F milder than one in zone 7a, so a shrub or perennial that thrives in one part of the state can die in another. Choose plants rated to your own ZIP code's zone or colder.
Hardiness zones follow latitude, elevation and large bodies of water rather than state lines. Higher ground and inland valleys that trap cold air usually sit in colder half zones, while cities, coasts and large lakes moderate winter lows. Within Georgia, a plant labelled “zones 8–9” survives winter in at least 97% of ZIP codes, but plants at the edge of their range benefit from mulch and a sheltered spot. Enter a ZIP code in the USDA hardiness zone finder by ZIP code to check your exact half zone before buying perennials.
A zone describes winter cold only. Summer heat, humidity, rainfall and soil decide whether a cold-hardy plant thrives, and planting dates for vegetables follow frost dates, not zones: two Georgia towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Georgia?
184 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 8a to 9a, the zones that cover 97% of Georgia ZIP codes. Popular examples include hydrangea, chrysanthemum and poppy.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Zone 5 – 9
AI generated
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Zone 5a – 9b
PlantoscanAI generated
Poppy
Papaver somniferum
Zone 3a – 9b
AI generated
- DahliaDahlia pinnataPlantoScan
Dahlia
Dahlia pinnata
Zone 8a – 11b
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
Zone 5a – 9b
AI generated
Azalea
Azalea indica
Zone 6a – 9b
AI generated
Arugula
Eruca sativa
Zone 5a – 10b
AI generated
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Zone 3a – 10a
AI generated
Calla Lily
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Zone 8a – 10b
AI generated
Hardiness ranges come from PlantoScan's plant database; gardeners in Georgia's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Georgia?
Across most Georgia ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between March 5 and April 3, from March 2 in Savannah to April 2 in Canton. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Georgia cities include the safer 90% planting date, the fall frost date, growing season length and a tomato planting table for each city.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What planting zone is Georgia?
- Georgia spans USDA hardiness zones 7a to 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 8a is the most common, covering 41% of the state's 937 ZIP codes, and zones 8a to 9a together cover 97%.
- What hardiness zone is Atlanta, Georgia?
- Atlanta is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (ZIP 30314), where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 °F to 15 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 24 and its first fall frost November 8.
- What hardiness zone is Columbus, Georgia?
- Columbus is in USDA hardiness zone 8b (ZIP 31907), where the average coldest winter night reaches 15 °F to 20 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 21 and its first fall frost November 11.
- What hardiness zone is Augusta, Georgia?
- Augusta is in USDA hardiness zone 8b (ZIP 30812), where the average coldest winter night reaches 15 °F to 20 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 23 and its first fall frost November 9.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Georgia?
- Zone 7a (0 °F to 5 °F) is the coldest zone in Georgia, found in 1 ZIP code. The warmest is zone 9a (20 °F to 25 °F), around Savannah and Albany.
Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code table, USDA Agricultural Research Service and the PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University, used without changes. Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals. City locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.