What Planting Zones Are in Minnesota?
Minnesota spans USDA hardiness zones 3a to 5a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −40 °F to −15 °F (−40 °C to −26.1 °C). Zone 4b covers the most ZIP codes, 36%, and zones 3b to 5a together cover 99% of the state.
- Zone 3a<1% · 5 ZIPs
- Zone 3b13% · 123 ZIPs
- Zone 4a21% · 200 ZIPs
- Zone 4b36% · 344 ZIPs
- Zone 5a29% · 271 ZIPs
Bars show each zone's share of the 943 Minnesota ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Minnesota Cities In?
Minneapolis is in zone 5a, St. Paul is in zone 5a, Rochester is in zone 4b and Bloomington is in zone 5a. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 19 Minnesota cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | 55404 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 23 | Oct 16 |
| St. Paul | 55101 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 24 | Oct 16 |
| Rochester | 55903 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 6 |
| Bloomington | 55431 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 23 | Oct 18 |
| Duluth | 55806 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 14 | Oct 12 |
| Brooklyn Park | 55443 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 8 |
| Woodbury | 55125 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 26 | Oct 12 |
| Plymouth | 55446 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 12 |
| Lakeville | 55044 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | Apr 27 | Oct 10 |
| Blaine | 55449 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 5 | Oct 2 |
| St. Cloud | 56387 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 3 | Oct 7 |
| Mankato | 56001 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| Moorhead | 56563 | 4a | −30 °F to −25 °F | May 5 | Oct 3 |
| Elk River | 55330 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 4 | Oct 5 |
| Austin | 55912 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 5 |
| Owatonna | 55060 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | May 5 | Oct 6 |
| Winona | 55987 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 21 | Oct 19 |
| Willmar | 56201 | 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 7 |
| Hibbing | 55746 | 3b | −35 °F to −30 °F | Jun 5 | Sep 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota Are in Each Zone?
Zone 3a, the coldest Minnesota zone, covers <1% of ZIP codes around International Falls. Zone 5a, the warmest, covers 29% around Minneapolis, St. Paul and Bloomington. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | −40 °F to −35 °F | <1% (5) | International Falls |
| Zone 3b | −35 °F to −30 °F | 13% (123) | Hibbing, Bemidji, Virginia, Chisholm |
| Zone 4a | −30 °F to −25 °F | 21% (200) | Moorhead, Brainerd, Fergus Falls, Cloquet |
| Zone 4b | −25 °F to −20 °F | 36% (344) | Rochester, Duluth, Lakeville, St. Cloud |
| Zone 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | 29% (271) | Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park |
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 Minnesota Gardeners?
A Minnesota gardener in zone 5a sees winter lows about 20 °F milder than one in zone 3a, 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 Minnesota, a plant labelled “zones 3–5” survives winter in at least 99% 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 Minnesota towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Minnesota?
104 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 3b to 5a, the zones that cover 99% of Minnesota ZIP codes. Popular examples include peony, poppy and daffodil.
Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Poppy
Papaver somniferum
Zone 3a – 9b
AI generated
Daffodil
Narcissus poeticus
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Zone 3a – 10a
AI generated
Tiger Lily
Lilium lancifolium
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Forget Me Not
Myosotis sylvatica
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Bee Balm
Monarda didyma
Zone 3a – 9b
Alex AbairCC BY 4.0iNaturalistresized
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
Zone 3a – 8b
Alex KarasoulosCC BY 4.0iNaturalistresized
Catnip
Nepeta cataria
Zone 3 – 9
AI generated
Hardiness ranges come from PlantoScan's plant database; gardeners in Minnesota's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Minnesota?
Across most Minnesota ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between April 25 and May 17, from April 21 in Winona to June 5 in Hibbing. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
- Minnesota spans USDA hardiness zones 3a to 5a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 4b is the most common, covering 36% of the state's 943 ZIP codes, and zones 3b to 5a together cover 99%.
- What hardiness zone is Minneapolis, Minnesota?
- Minneapolis is in USDA hardiness zone 5a (ZIP 55404), where the average coldest winter night reaches −20 °F to −15 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 23 and its first fall frost October 16.
- What hardiness zone is St. Paul, Minnesota?
- St. Paul is in USDA hardiness zone 5a (ZIP 55101), where the average coldest winter night reaches −20 °F to −15 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 24 and its first fall frost October 16.
- What hardiness zone is Rochester, Minnesota?
- Rochester is in USDA hardiness zone 4b (ZIP 55903), where the average coldest winter night reaches −25 °F to −20 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 30 and its first fall frost October 6.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Minnesota?
- Zone 3a (−40 °F to −35 °F) is the coldest zone in Minnesota, found in 5 ZIP codes around International Falls. The warmest is zone 5a (−20 °F to −15 °F), around Minneapolis and St. Paul.
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.