What Planting Zones Are in Nebraska?
Nebraska spans USDA hardiness zones 5a to 6a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −20 °F to −5 °F (−28.9 °C to −20.6 °C). Zone 5b covers the most ZIP codes, 48%, and zones 5a to 6a together cover 100% of the state.
Bars show each zone's share of the 609 Nebraska ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are Nebraska Cities In?
Omaha is in zone 6a, Lincoln is in zone 6a, Bellevue is in zone 6a and Grand Island is in zone 5b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 Nebraska cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 68114 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 16 | Oct 18 |
| Lincoln | 68503 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 24 | Oct 13 |
| Bellevue | 68056 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 17 | Oct 19 |
| Grand Island | 68801 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Apr 23 | Oct 15 |
| Kearney | 68849 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Apr 30 | Oct 10 |
| Fremont | 68025 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Apr 23 | Oct 15 |
| Norfolk | 68701 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 1 | Oct 4 |
| Papillion | 68046 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 17 | Oct 19 |
| Hastings | 68901 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 22 | Oct 16 |
| Columbus | 68601 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Apr 21 | Oct 15 |
| North Platte | 69101 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 3 | Oct 10 |
| Scottsbluff | 69341 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | May 8 | Oct 3 |
| South Sioux City | 68776 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | Apr 29 | Oct 7 |
| Beatrice | 68310 | 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | Apr 24 | Oct 15 |
| Lexington | 68850 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Apr 26 | Oct 13 |
| York | 68467 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Apr 22 | Oct 18 |
| Alliance | 69301 | 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | May 11 | Oct 3 |
| Blair | 68008 | 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | Apr 22 | 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 Nebraska 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 Nebraska Are in Each Zone?
Zone 5a, the coldest Nebraska zone, covers 18% of ZIP codes around South Sioux City, Alliance and Wayne. Zone 6a, the warmest, covers 34% around Omaha, Lincoln and Bellevue. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5a | −20 °F to −15 °F | 18% (112) | South Sioux City, Alliance, Wayne, Chadron |
| Zone 5b | −15 °F to −10 °F | 48% (291) | Grand Island, Kearney, Fremont, Norfolk |
| Zone 6a | −10 °F to −5 °F | 34% (206) | Omaha, Lincoln, Bellevue, Papillion |
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 Nebraska Gardeners?
A Nebraska gardener in zone 6a sees winter lows about 10 °F milder than one in zone 5a, 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 Nebraska, a plant labelled “zones 5–6” 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 Nebraska towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across Nebraska?
199 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 5a to 6a, the zones that cover 100% of Nebraska 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
Arugula
Eruca sativa
Zone 5a – 10b
AI generated
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Zone 3a – 10a
AI generated
Hardiness ranges come from PlantoScan's plant database; gardeners in Nebraska's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in Nebraska?
Across most Nebraska ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between April 19 and May 8, from April 16 in Omaha to May 11 in Alliance. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for Nebraska 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 Nebraska?
- Nebraska spans USDA hardiness zones 5a to 6a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 5b is the most common, covering 48% of the state's 609 ZIP codes, and zones 5a to 6a together cover 100%.
- What hardiness zone is Omaha, Nebraska?
- Omaha is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (ZIP 68114), where the average coldest winter night reaches −10 °F to −5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 16 and its first fall frost October 18.
- What hardiness zone is Lincoln, Nebraska?
- Lincoln is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (ZIP 68503), where the average coldest winter night reaches −10 °F to −5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 24 and its first fall frost October 13.
- What hardiness zone is Bellevue, Nebraska?
- Bellevue is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (ZIP 68056), where the average coldest winter night reaches −10 °F to −5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 17 and its first fall frost October 19.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in Nebraska?
- Zone 5a (−20 °F to −15 °F) is the coldest zone in Nebraska, found in 112 ZIP codes around South Sioux City and Alliance. The warmest is zone 6a (−10 °F to −5 °F), around Omaha and Lincoln.
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.