What Planting Zones Are in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts spans USDA hardiness zones 5b to 7b, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −15 °F to 10 °F (−26.1 °C to −12.2 °C). Zone 6b covers the most ZIP codes, 42%, and zones 6a to 7a together cover 87% of the state.
- Zone 5b8% · 56 ZIPs
- Zone 6a23% · 154 ZIPs
- Zone 6b42% · 281 ZIPs
- Zone 7a23% · 153 ZIPs
- Zone 7b5% · 31 ZIPs
Bars show each zone's share of the 675 Massachusetts ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Massachusetts Cities In?
Boston is in zone 7a, Worcester is in zone 6a, Springfield is in zone 6a and Cambridge is in zone 6b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 Massachusetts cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 02127 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 4 | Nov 9 |
| Worcester | 01608 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 23 | Oct 21 |
| Springfield | 01109 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| Cambridge | 02163 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 19 | Oct 23 |
| Lowell | 01851 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 10 |
| Brockton | 02301 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 22 | Oct 19 |
| Lynn | 01905 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 25 | Oct 20 |
| Quincy | 02170 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 25 | Oct 22 |
| New Bedford | 02746 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| Fall River | 02720 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 15 |
| Framingham | 01701 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 26 | Oct 12 |
| Barnstable Town | 02632 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 16 | Oct 30 |
| Attleboro | 02703 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 27 | Oct 15 |
| Leominster | 01453 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 11 |
| Pittsfield | 01201 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| Amherst Town | 01003 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | May 5 | Oct 8 |
| Gloucester | 01930 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | May 4 | Oct 12 |
| Newburyport | 01950 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | May 3 | Oct 8 |
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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts Are in Each Zone?
Zone 5b, the coldest Massachusetts zone, covers 8% of ZIP codes around Pittsfield, Gardner and North Adams. Zone 7a, the warmest with towns, covers 23% around Boston, Lynn and Quincy. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | 8% (56) | Pittsfield, Gardner, North Adams |
| Zone 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | 23% (154) | Worcester, Springfield, Haverhill, Chicopee |
| Zone 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | 42% (281) | Cambridge, Lowell, Brockton, Newton |
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | 23% (153) | Boston, Lynn, Quincy, New Bedford |
| Zone 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | 5% (31) | Rural ZIP codes only |
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 Massachusetts Gardeners?
A Massachusetts gardener in zone 7b sees winter lows about 20 °F milder than one in zone 5b, 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 Massachusetts, a plant labelled “zones 6–7” survives winter in at least 87% 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 Massachusetts towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Massachusetts?
219 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 6a to 7a, the zones that cover 87% of Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Massachusetts?
Across most Massachusetts ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between April 13 and May 7, from April 4 in Boston to May 5 in Amherst Town. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
- Massachusetts spans USDA hardiness zones 5b to 7b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 6b is the most common, covering 42% of the state's 675 ZIP codes, and zones 6a to 7a together cover 87%.
- What hardiness zone is Boston, Massachusetts?
- Boston is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (ZIP 02127), where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 °F to 5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 4 and its first fall frost November 9.
- What hardiness zone is Worcester, Massachusetts?
- Worcester is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (ZIP 01608), where the average coldest winter night reaches −10 °F to −5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 23 and its first fall frost October 21.
- What hardiness zone is Springfield, Massachusetts?
- Springfield is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (ZIP 01109), where the average coldest winter night reaches −10 °F to −5 °F. Its average last spring frost is May 3 and its first fall frost October 8.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Massachusetts?
- Zone 5b (−15 °F to −10 °F) is the coldest zone in Massachusetts, found in 56 ZIP codes around Pittsfield and Gardner. The warmest is zone 7b (5 °F to 10 °F).
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.