What Planting Zones Are in Missouri?
Missouri spans USDA hardiness zones 5b to 8a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −15 °F to 15 °F (−26.1 °C to −9.4 °C). Zone 6b covers the most ZIP codes, 46%, and zones 6a to 7a together cover 92% of the state.
- Zone 5b3% · 39 ZIPs
- Zone 6a19% · 216 ZIPs
- Zone 6b46% · 521 ZIPs
- Zone 7a27% · 310 ZIPs
- Zone 7b5% · 52 ZIPs
- Zone 8a<1% · 6 ZIPs
Bars show each zone's share of the 1,144 Missouri ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Missouri Cities In?
Kansas City is in zone 6b, St. Louis is in zone 7a, Springfield is in zone 7a and Columbia is in zone 6b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 20 Missouri cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | 64124 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 4 | Nov 2 |
| St. Louis | 63108 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 1 | Nov 4 |
| Springfield | 65897 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 4 | Oct 27 |
| Columbia | 65216 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 5 | Oct 31 |
| Independence | 64057 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
| Lee's Summit | 64081 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 7 | Oct 29 |
| O'Fallon | 63368 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 10 | Oct 26 |
| St. Charles | 63045 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 8 | Oct 29 |
| St. Joseph | 64501 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 19 | Oct 17 |
| St. Peters | 63376 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 9 | Oct 26 |
| Joplin | 64801 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 9 | Oct 27 |
| Jefferson City | 65101 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 10 | Oct 26 |
| Cape Girardeau | 63701 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 7 | Oct 29 |
| Sedalia | 65301 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 18 | Oct 22 |
| Arnold | 63010 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 9 | Oct 26 |
| Rolla | 65409 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 5 | Nov 1 |
| Warrensburg | 64093 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 14 | Oct 21 |
| Farmington | 63640 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 13 | Oct 21 |
| Sikeston | 63801 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Mar 26 | Nov 6 |
| Maryville | 64468 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Apr 19 | Oct 17 |
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 Missouri 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 Missouri Are in Each Zone?
Zone 5b, the coldest Missouri zone, covers 3% of ZIP codes around Maryville, Unionville and Tarkio. Zone 8a, the warmest, covers <1% around Steele. 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 | 3% (39) | Maryville, Unionville, Tarkio, Rock Port |
| Zone 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | 19% (216) | St. Joseph, Liberty, Kirksville, Hannibal |
| Zone 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | 46% (521) | Kansas City, Columbia, Independence, Lee's Summit |
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | 27% (310) | St. Louis, Springfield, Joplin, Florissant |
| Zone 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | 5% (52) | Sikeston, Kennett, Dexter, Caruthersville |
| Zone 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | <1% (6) | Steele |
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 Missouri Gardeners?
A Missouri gardener in zone 8a sees winter lows about 25 °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 Missouri, a plant labelled “zones 6–7” survives winter in at least 92% 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 Missouri towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Missouri?
219 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 6a to 7a, the zones that cover 92% of Missouri 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 Missouri's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Missouri?
Across most Missouri ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between April 2 and April 19, from March 26 in Sikeston to April 19 in Maryville. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Missouri 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 Missouri?
- Missouri spans USDA hardiness zones 5b to 8a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 6b is the most common, covering 46% of the state's 1,144 ZIP codes, and zones 6a to 7a together cover 92%.
- What hardiness zone is Kansas City, Missouri?
- Kansas City is in USDA hardiness zone 6b (ZIP 64124), where the average coldest winter night reaches −5 °F to 0 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 4 and its first fall frost November 2.
- What hardiness zone is St. Louis, Missouri?
- St. Louis is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (ZIP 63108), where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 °F to 5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 1 and its first fall frost November 4.
- What hardiness zone is Springfield, Missouri?
- Springfield is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (ZIP 65897), 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 October 27.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Missouri?
- Zone 5b (−15 °F to −10 °F) is the coldest zone in Missouri, found in 39 ZIP codes around Maryville and Unionville. The warmest is zone 8a (10 °F to 15 °F), around Steele.
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.