What Planting Zones Are in New Jersey?
New Jersey spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 8a, where the average coldest winter night ranges from −5 °F to 15 °F (−20.6 °C to −9.4 °C). Zone 7a covers the most ZIP codes, 47%, and zones 6b to 7b together cover 98% of the state.
Bars show each zone's share of the 715 New Jersey ZIP codes in the official 2023 USDA ZIP code table; select a zone for its temperatures and hardy plants.
What Hardiness Zone Are New Jersey Cities In?
Newark is in zone 7b, Jersey City is in zone 7b, Paterson is in zone 7a and Elizabeth is in zone 7b. The table lists the zone, winter low and average frost dates for 18 New Jersey cities, using the ZIP code nearest each city center.
| City | ZIP | Zone | Winter low | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | 07102 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 4 | Nov 6 |
| Jersey City | 07304 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 4 | Nov 6 |
| Paterson | 07501 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 15 | Oct 28 |
| Elizabeth | 07201 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
| Trenton | 08609 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 17 | Oct 28 |
| Clifton | 07013 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 15 | Oct 28 |
| Bayonne | 07002 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 2 | Nov 10 |
| East Orange | 07017 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 4 | Nov 6 |
| Camden | 08103 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Mar 30 | Nov 17 |
| Passaic | 07055 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 3 | Nov 4 |
| Vineland | 08360 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 24 | Oct 23 |
| New Brunswick | 08901 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 15 | Oct 26 |
| Atlantic City | 08401 | 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | Mar 26 | Nov 21 |
| Long Branch | 07740 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 9 | Nov 3 |
| Glassboro | 08028 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 8 | Nov 1 |
| Point Pleasant | 08742 | 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Dover | 07801 | 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | Apr 17 | Oct 23 |
| Phillipsburg | 08865 | 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey Are in Each Zone?
Zone 6b, the coldest New Jersey zone, covers 11% of ZIP codes around Dover, Hopatcong and Hackettstown. Zone 8a, the warmest, covers 2% around Atlantic City, Brigantine and Wildwood. The table lists the largest places in every zone.
| Zone | Avg. coldest night | Share of ZIPs | Largest places in this zone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 6b | −5 °F to 0 °F | 11% (76) | Dover, Hopatcong, Hackettstown, Kinnelon |
| Zone 7a | 0 °F to 5 °F | 47% (339) | Paterson, Trenton, Clifton, East Orange |
| Zone 7b | 5 °F to 10 °F | 40% (289) | Newark, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Bayonne |
| Zone 8a | 10 °F to 15 °F | 2% (11) | Atlantic City, Brigantine, Wildwood, North Wildwood |
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 New Jersey Gardeners?
A New Jersey gardener in zone 8a sees winter lows about 15 °F milder than one in zone 6b, 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 New Jersey, a plant labelled “zones 6–7” survives winter in at least 98% 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 New Jersey towns in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart.
What Plants Grow Well Across New Jersey?
221 plants in PlantoScan's catalogue are hardy in every zone from 6b to 7b, the zones that cover 98% of New Jersey 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 New Jersey's colder or warmer edge zones should check each plant's full range.
When Is the Last Frost in New Jersey?
Across most New Jersey ZIP codes, the average last spring frost falls between April 2 and April 25, from March 26 in Atlantic City to April 24 in Vineland. Tender vegetables such as tomatoes go out 1 to 2 weeks after the local date.
The last and first frost dates for New Jersey 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 New Jersey?
- New Jersey spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 8a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zone 7a is the most common, covering 47% of the state's 715 ZIP codes, and zones 6b to 7b together cover 98%.
- What hardiness zone is Newark, New Jersey?
- Newark is in USDA hardiness zone 7b (ZIP 07102), where the average coldest winter night reaches 5 °F to 10 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 4 and its first fall frost November 6.
- What hardiness zone is Jersey City, New Jersey?
- Jersey City is in USDA hardiness zone 7b (ZIP 07304), where the average coldest winter night reaches 5 °F to 10 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 4 and its first fall frost November 6.
- What hardiness zone is Paterson, New Jersey?
- Paterson is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (ZIP 07501), where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 °F to 5 °F. Its average last spring frost is April 15 and its first fall frost October 28.
- What is the coldest hardiness zone in New Jersey?
- Zone 6b (−5 °F to 0 °F) is the coldest zone in New Jersey, found in 76 ZIP codes around Dover and Hopatcong. The warmest is zone 8a (10 °F to 15 °F), around Atlantic City and Brigantine.
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.