What Planting Zones Are in Kansas?
Kansas spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 7a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −10 °F to 5 °F (−23.3 °C to −15 °C). Zone 6b covers the most ZIP codes, 54%, and zones 6a to 7a together cover 100% of the state.
Bars show each zone's share of the 741 Kansas ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Kansas Cities In?
Wichita is in zone 7a, Overland Park is in zone 6b, Kansas City is in zone 6b and Olathe is in zone 6b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 Kansas cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | 67202 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
| Overland Park | 66213 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 10 | Oct 29 |
| Kansas City | 66112 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 16 | Oct 22 |
| Olathe | 66061 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 13 | Oct 24 |
| Topeka | 66621 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 16 | Oct 22 |
| Lawrence | 66045 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 12 | Oct 28 |
| Shawnee | 66218 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 16 | Oct 22 |
| Lenexa | 66220 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 10 | Oct 29 |
| Manhattan | 66506 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 16 | Oct 19 |
| Salina | 67401 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 18 | Oct 23 |
| Hutchinson | 67505 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 18 | Oct 21 |
| Leavenworth | 66027 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 12 | Oct 27 |
| Garden City | 67846 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 28 | Oct 17 |
| Dodge City | 67801 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 21 | Oct 20 |
| Emporia | 66801 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 15 | Oct 23 |
| Junction City | 66441 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 12 | Oct 26 |
| Hays | 67601 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 25 | Oct 15 |
| Pittsburg | 66762 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 7 | Oct 30 |
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 Kansas 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 Kansas Are in Each Zone?
Zone 6a, the coldest Kansas zone, covers 24% of ZIP codes around Manhattan, Atchison and Colby. Zone 7a, the warmest, covers 22% around Wichita, Derby and Pittsburg. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | 24% (178) | Manhattan, Atchison, Colby, Goodland |
| Zone 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | 54% (401) | Overland Park, Kansas City, Olathe, Topeka |
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | 22% (162) | Wichita, Derby, Pittsburg, Andover |
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 Kansas Gardeners?
A Kansas gardener in zone 7a sees winter lows about 10 °F milder than one in zone 6a, 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 Kansas, a plant labelled “zones 6–7” survives winter in at least 100% 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 Kansas towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Kansas?
219 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 6a to 7a, the zones that cover 100% of Kansas ZIP codes. Popular examples include hydrangea, peony and daisy.
Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Zone 5 – 9
AI generated
Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
- DaisyBellis perennisPlantoScan
Daisy
Bellis perennis
Zone 4a – 8b
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Zone 5a – 9b
PlantoscanAI generated
Poppy
Papaver somniferum
Zone 3a – 9b
AI generated
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
Zone 5a – 9b
AI generated
Daffodil
Narcissus poeticus
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Azalea
Azalea indica
Zone 6a – 9b
AI generated
Arugula
Eruca sativa
Zone 5a – 10b
AI generated
Hardiness ranges come from PlantoScan's plant database; gardeners in Kansas's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Kansas?
Across most Kansas ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between April 8 and April 28, from April 7 in Pittsburg to April 28 in Garden City. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Kansas 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 Kansas?
- Kansas spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 7a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 6b is the most common, covering 54% of the state's 741 ZIP codes, and zones 6a to 7a together cover 100%.
- What hardiness zone is Wichita, Kansas?
- Wichita is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (ZIP 67202), where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 °F to 5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 11 and its first fall frost October 29.
- What hardiness zone is Overland Park, Kansas?
- Overland Park is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (ZIP 66213), where the average coldest winter night reaches −5 °F to 0 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 10 and its first fall frost October 29.
- What hardiness zone is Kansas City, Kansas?
- Kansas City is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (ZIP 66112), where the average coldest winter night reaches −5 °F to 0 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 16 and its first fall frost October 22.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Kansas?
- Zone 6a (−10 °F to −5 °F) is the coldest zone in Kansas, found in 178 ZIP codes around Manhattan and Atchison. The warmest is zone 7a (0 °F to 5 °F), around Wichita and Derby.
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.