What Planting Zones Are in Mississippi?
Mississippi spans USDA hardiness zones 7b to 9a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from 5 °F to 25 °F (−15 °C to −3.9 °C). Zone 8b covers the most ZIP codes, 58%, and zones 8a to 8b together cover 87% of the state.
Bars show each zone's share of the 524 Mississippi ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Mississippi Cities In?
Jackson is in zone 8b, Gulfport is in zone 9a, Southaven is in zone 8a and Hattiesburg is in zone 8b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 Mississippi cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson | 39203 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 6 | Nov 19 |
| Gulfport | 39507 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Feb 12 | Dec 14 |
| Southaven | 38671 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 16 | Nov 16 |
| Hattiesburg | 39406 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 7 | Nov 23 |
| Biloxi | 39534 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Feb 12 | Dec 14 |
| Olive Branch | 38654 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 26 | Nov 6 |
| Tupelo | 38804 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 21 | Nov 10 |
| Meridian | 39342 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 16 | Nov 12 |
| Pearl | 39208 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 14 | Nov 14 |
| Madison | 39110 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 6 | Nov 19 |
| Greenville | 38701 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 13 | Nov 15 |
| Oxford | 38677 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 3 | Oct 31 |
| Starkville | 39759 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 23 | Nov 8 |
| Columbus | 39705 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 13 | Nov 12 |
| Pascagoula | 39567 | 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | Mar 8 | Nov 19 |
| Vicksburg | 39180 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Feb 26 | Nov 22 |
| Laurel | 39440 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 12 | Nov 12 |
| Natchez | 39120 | 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | Mar 16 | Nov 9 |
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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi Are in Each Zone?
Zone 7b, the coldest Mississippi zone, covers 4% of ZIP codes around Oxford, Corinth and Holly Springs. Zone 9a, the warmest, covers 9% around Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | 4% (21) | Oxford, Corinth, Holly Springs, Ripley |
| Zone 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | 29% (151) | Southaven, Olive Branch, Tupelo, Horn Lake |
| Zone 8b | 15 °F to 20 °F | 58% (303) | Jackson, Hattiesburg, Meridian, Pearl |
| Zone 9a | 20 °F to 25 °F | 9% (49) | Gulfport, Biloxi, Pascagoula, Gautier |
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 Mississippi Gardeners?
A Mississippi gardener in zone 9a sees winter lows about 15 °F milder than one in zone 7b, 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 Mississippi, a plant labelled “zones 8–9” 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 Mississippi towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Mississippi?
255 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 8a to 8b, the zones that cover 87% of Mississippi 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
- DahliaDahlia pinnataPlantoScan
Dahlia
Dahlia pinnata
Zone 8a – 11b
Carnation
Dianthus caryophyllus
Zone 5a – 9b
AI generated
Daffodil
Narcissus poeticus
Zone 3 – 8
AI generated
Azalea
Azalea indica
Zone 6a – 9b
AI generated
Hardiness ranges come from PlantoScan's plant database; gardeners in Mississippi's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Mississippi?
Across most Mississippi ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between March 6 and April 1, from February 12 in Gulfport to April 3 in Oxford. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
- Mississippi spans USDA hardiness zones 7b to 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 8b is the most common, covering 58% of the state's 524 ZIP codes, and zones 8a to 8b together cover 87%.
- What hardiness zone is Jackson, Mississippi?
- Jackson is in USDA hardiness zone 8b (ZIP 39203), where the average coldest winter night reaches 15 °F to 20 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 6 and its first fall frost November 19.
- What hardiness zone is Gulfport, Mississippi?
- Gulfport is in USDA hardiness zone 9a (ZIP 39507), where the average coldest winter night reaches 20 °F to 25 °F. Its average last spring frost is February 12 and its first fall frost December 14.
- What hardiness zone is Southaven, Mississippi?
- Southaven is in USDA hardiness zone 8a (ZIP 38671), where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 °F to 15 °F. Its average last spring frost is March 16 and its first fall frost November 16.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Mississippi?
- Zone 7b (5 °F to 10 °F) is the coldest zone in Mississippi, found in 21 ZIP codes around Oxford and Corinth. The warmest is zone 9a (20 °F to 25 °F), around Gulfport and Biloxi.
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.